The bulk of this volume is made up of Behan's weekly articles for the Irish Press in the 1950s. Many of them have been republished already, but this is a new selection and while the topical references have blurred over the years, the best of the pieces (some were obviously written quickly and to order) compare favourably with Myles na Gopaleen's unique column for this paper. Ideal for a relaxed read. A bonus is the short story Christmas Eve in the Graveyard, which only came to light recently through an art auction in Dublin. There is a foreword by Anthony Cronin and pleasant black-and-white drawings by Behan's wife, the late Beatrice Behan (nee Salkeld). B.F.