Hussein: An entertainment, set in India, was published in 1938, when O'Brian was 23. It was notable for being the first book of contemporary fiction ever published by the Oxford University Press, to whose annuals for boys he had been a regular contributor for some years. O'Brian published very little under his original name of Russ during World War II, and nothing after 1940. His change of surname in 1945 necessarily meant abandoning the literary reputation he had built up as R P Russ.
Hussein An entertainment set in India was published in 1938 when O'Brian was 23 It was notable for being the first book of contemporary fiction ever published by the Oxford University Press to whose annuals for boys he had been a regular contributor for some years O'Brian published very little under his original name of Russ during World War II and nothing after 1940 His change of surname in 1945 necessarily meant abandoning the literary reputation he had built up as R P Russ