My initial reaction on reading this book was: "My goodness, this is an awful lot like "Myles na gCopaleen" or "Beachcomber."" In that sense, true enough. This is a collection of humourous pieces, very short ones, from the old "News Chronicle" newspaper, dating from the years just prior to, and the first years of, the Second World War. As it turned out, when I looked it up, the author of these pieces (D.B. Wyndham Lewis), HAD been "Beachcomber." It was he that originated the famous column, which in turn was the inspiration for "Myles'" column in the Irish Times. The pieces themselves vary in quality -- some are groaners, some are clever bits of verse. Doesn't really lend itself to reading, more of a tapas-like perusal, dipping in and out. Overall, pretty good, I thought. Recommended -- and likely not available in many places. ( )