Editor's note: The essays that make up this volume have been sifted from the bulk of O'Leary's writings over almost a quarter century. They have been selected on the grounds of the more general and abiding interest of their subjects, or on the quality of the writing contained in them....The keen controversialist and satirist, and the brilliant commentator have been omitted because of their limited reference to events which have no further interest....With the exception of the series of essays, 'Studies in Australian Literature', with which this volume opens, and which first appeared in The Catholic Press, Sydney, all these essays are from the Advocate, Melbourne, to the editor of which we are indebted for them. (v-vi).
