"Brief Encounters is an entertaining collection of fifteen humorous pieces by celebrated Australian journalist and columnist Ron Saw, pairing his unmistakably irreverent prose with twenty lively illustrations by acclaimed artist Donald Friend. Fourteen of the selections were drawn from the archives of The Bulletin, while the particularly outrageous concluding piece, "Dick", appeared here for the first time. Together they capture Saw's sharp eye for absurdity and his ability to find comedy in ordinary people, social customs, animals and the more eccentric corners of Australian life.
The encounters range freely across uncles and great-aunts, wombats, womcats, tomcats, bantam roosters, ducks, pigeons, seagulls, elephants, horses, dogs, gardens and assorted "rare specimens of humanity". Pieces including "Uncle George", "Operation Bah-room", "A Few Coins for the Mountin", "The Womcat", "Spring", "Randy Albert" and "Auntie Ron Replies" reveal Saw at his most mischievous: conversational, observant and cheerfully willing to test the boundaries of respectable journalism. Beneath the broad humour is a vivid record of Australian attitudes and popular journalism during the later twentieth century.
Donald Friend's illustrations form an essential part of the book rather than serving merely as decoration. His energetic line, caricature and occasional use of colour perfectly complement Saw's humour, exaggerating the personalities, animals and improbable situations described in the text. The collaboration brings together two distinctive Australian talents—Saw's laconic wit and Friend's exuberant, sometimes wicked draughtsmanship—in a handsome and highly individual illustrated volume.
Published in New South Wales by Richard Griffin in 1984, this first edition was strictly limited to 2,000 copies and is preserved in its original unclipped illustrated dustjacket. Of particular interest is the accompanying provenance letter, dated 24 October 1985 and written on Australian Consolidated Press letterhead by Graham Lawrence, Advertising Sales Director, to Peter Bartels, Managing Director of Carlton United Breweries. The signed letter presents this copy in recognition of Bartels' support for The Bulletin, explicitly noting the magazine's 105-year literary heritage, Ron Saw's standing among Australia's great humourists and Donald Friend's illustrations—providing an excellent contemporary association linking the book directly with The Bulletin, its publisher and a prominent Australian business figure."
Light wear to dustjacket. Pages clean and well presented. An excellent copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
