The Weird Mob Of Western Samoa

The long awaited third book by John O’Grady —No Kava for \ny —was published in late May. It was long-awaited because his two books, written disguised as Nino Culotta, the New Australian, h had sold 270,000 for They’re a Weird Mob and 130,000 for Cop Lor had left the critics still wondering whether he could really write.

Such phenomenal sales, in Australia, and in expensive editions, icd to suggest to the cultured members of the Critics’ Union that ever O’Grady-Culotta was producing, couldn’t be literature—or nob wouldn’t be going for it.

Now they’ve got their chance to find out. Before he became a selling writer, John O’Grady was a pharmacist and about the time nanuscript of Weird Mob was trying to find an interested publisher, [upped off to a job at Apia Hospital, Western Samoa.

He was still there when the book became a sensation back in raha, and thus encouraged, he began a story of Samoa—which has become No Kava for Johnny. At his publisher’s request, the ian story was put on ice while he wrote a sequel to Nino Culotta’s ralian adventures—which is why this, the second book he wrote, is bird to be published.

No Kava for Johnny is the story of Johnny (or loane) the nacist s mate a small man with a big heart but a talent for putting feet forward into the wrong situations.

Fhe book, just released as this edition of PIM went to press be reviewed in the book section in July. Meanwhile, PI M’s tip is Nino can write but that his book will be better appreciated in the Is than in Australia.

It is published by Ure Smith Pty. Ltd. and the Australian price is