In "The Unknown Story of Cornelia Rau", Robert Manne delivers a blunder-by-blunder account of what really happened: from her involvement with a Sydney sect where her mind broke apart to her traumatic ordeal at the Baxter detention centre.

Helen Garner, in "Moving Experience", explores one of modern life's biggest and most universal causes of stress: moving house.

Gideon Haigh, in "Beach Boy", writes a personal appreciation of Shane Warne on the eve of Warne's final, nerve-jangling Test match in England.

Celina Ribeiro, in "She is Somewhere", documents one person's story of youth depression.

Andrew Wilkie produces a frank assessment of Australia's capacity to combat terrorism: "a frightening disconnect persists between what we need Australia's intelligence agencies to achieve and what they are capable of".

Kerryn Goldsworthy grapples with Pauline Hanson's post-politics rebirth as a TV sweetheart.

Stephen Fay profiles his nomination for Greatest Living Australian, 80-year-old conductor Charles Mackerras, who can't stop working.

Phillip Knightley, in "Swingeing Pom", ponders the appeal of Christopher Hitchens and his latest collection of essays. Is it nothing more than old-fashioned, in-your-face journalism pushed up-market?

Plus, Anna Clark on a murder mystery in the Kimberley, Maria Tumarkin on the latest contribution to the how-to-bring-up-children debate, and Anna Krien's journey with the Aboriginal night patrols of central Australia. There's also Helen Garner on the movie PS, Robert Forster on Frank Black, and a startling work of fiction by Roger McDonald.