The Best Australian Essays 2008

It was the year of Wall Street's collapse and Australia's apology, of a film-world tragedy and an art-world scandal. In Best Australian Essays 2008, David Marr has selected great writing from a turbulent time. With eyewitness accounts from crisis zones and film sets, deserts and campaign trails, and tales of failing banks and wounded birds, hitchhiking and footy jumpers, mourning brothers and raising children, music, media, art, love and obscenity, these wonderful essays paint a vivid picture of the year that was. Contributors include: Christos Tsiolkas, Guy Rundle, Tim Flannery, Kate Jennings, Ed O'Loughlin, Robyn Davidson, John van Tiggelen, Don Watson, Cullen Murphy, Chris Hammer, Robert Manne, Les Carlyon, Rachel Robertson, Benjamin Law, Vin Maskell, Barry Humphries, Tim Winton, Robert Dessaix, Annabel Crabb, Anna Goldsworthy, Gerald Murnane, Inga Clendinnen, Cate Kennedy, Mary Ellen Jordan, David Malouf, Craig Sherborne, Gideon Haigh, Neil Armfield, David Marr, Simon Leys, Nicolas Rothwell.