Try Anything Once

Prolific Australian author Frank Clune's first book - autobiographically telling the story of his youth from running away from home at 15 years old at the commencement of the book, to settling down with his wife and young family at the end of the book, published 1933.

Between times he travels the world from end to end numerous times (mostly crewing on ships to Germany or Canada on repeat voyages and occasions) travelled extensively in Australia, been fired or quit from more jobs the average man would expect in three lifetimes. He gives up numbering them, but mentions his 57th job at a point about 2/3 of the way through the book!

For those unlucky enough not have read any of Clune's wonderful books on history (mostly Australian history), this book is the genus of his writing - written in a straightforward manner - although he develops better skills in the future - he describes his style as writing for the common man.

Like many lovable Australian rogues, Clune finds himself in all sorts of strife - mostly of his own making, be keen to avoid work yet still get paid, in an amazing array of employment positions, including serving for the cavalry in the USA, then the USA army (and deserting), applying for the Marines (and having to make a hasty exit when he realised he was still wearing US Army underwear for his medical), applying for the Canadian Mounties (turned down when caught wearing several pairs of socks to meet the height requirements). Finally with the outbreak of WWI, Clune enlisted for the Australian Army where he served in Gallipoli - probably the only serious part of the book, before being injured and invalided out of the war. He even becomes an Army recruiter at one point.

Having only touched on his military ‘career', is only a start. Loads of salesman jobs, loads of farming jobs, butchery, paperboy, librarian, fireman, linesman, lumberjack, clown and opera singer... these I can recall from memory and the dust jacket cover.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and have my eye out for his second called ‘Try Nothing Twice' which follows on (written 1946).

4.5 stars, rounded up.