Phillip Adams and Patrice Newell   The Penguin Book of Australian Jokes (Penguin Aus). An excellent introduction to the Australian sense of humour, divided into twenty sections close to the nation's heart, among them "A Sporting Chance", "The Work Ethic" and "History and the Yarts". You'll probably need a local to explain a lot of the references.

 

Don Anderson (ed) 65-95 Contemporary Classics (Vintage Aus). One of the country's most eminent literary critics chooses the best of recent Australian short writing, from Glenda Adams to Tim Winton.

Carmel Bird (ed) The Penguin Century of Australian Stories (Penguin Aus). 130 years of short-story writing, from Henry Lawson to Helen Garner and beyond. Ideal interstate bus companion.

Les Murray   Subhuman Redneck Poems (Carcanet Press UK; FS&G US; Duffy & Snelgrove Aus). A collection by the outspoken, larger than life and internationally recognized Australian poet, who lives on a farm in the New South Wales bush.

Dale Spender (ed) The Penguin Anthology of Australian Women's Writing (Penguin UK o/p, Aus). A brick-sized book containing all the best of Australian women's writing, from Elizabeth Macarthur to Germaine Greer.

John Tranter and Philip Mead (eds) The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry (Penguin Aus). Poetry has a popular and active appeal Down Under; the twentieth century's best are collected in this anthology.