AN AUSTRALIAN ACCENT - Forty Stories

"Australian humour has a long history that can be traced back to our origins as convict colonies. It is therefore no surprise that a national sense of humour quickly developed that responded to those conditions. This unique sense of humour is recognised (although maybe not always understood) the world over as being distinctly Australian. Our humour is dry, full of extremes, anti-authoritarian, self-mocking and ironic." Australian Government Cultural and Recreation Portal (culture.gov.au). Not all the stories in this collection are humourous but most of them are. They are best read in small doses rather than long sittings.