Xavier Herbert considers himself the Disturbing Element in the family he claimed never wanted him. Born in 1901 in Western Australia, Herbert grew up amid confusing and sometimes contradictory family legends. Often comic, often tragic, Disturbing Element traces Herbert's life as he changes careers from pharmacist to railway fettler to writer. This is the story of an Australian literary legend written in his own classic style. 'He writes with the passion of a great lover and a great hater.' - Manning Clark, Canberra Times.