If a person had to learn about a country by only reading one book then reading a book of short stories by some of that country's leading authors would be an ideal way to do so. These stories run the gamut from modern urban grit to rural simplicity (at least on the surface) and really give a feel for how Australians view their country.

My favourite story in this collection was "The Legacy of Rita Marquand" by Carmel Bird. It tells the story of a woman who painted in her spare time (how she had any spare time while living on a farm and raising 6 children I can't fathom) and her two daughters, Dymphna and Dolores. It is a rather sad story but beautifully written. Another story brought me to tears but perhaps that's just me. It was the story by Peter Goldsworthy called "Shooting the Dog". There are some quirky stories the best of which, I think, was "Fox Unpopuli" by Eva Sallis about incredible lengths taken by Tasmanians to rid their island of a fox that came over from the mainland.

I have made a note of some of these authors who have written novels but it may take some work to get my hands on their books because they do not seem to be widely available in Canada. Nevertheless, I enjoy being exposed to Australian fiction by writers other than the more famous like Tim Winton and Peter Carey. ( )

The Best Australian Stories 2006 Ed Robert Drewe