‘Turn the page and hear the voices within … ’ - RAMONA KOVAL

The Best Australian Essays 2011 offers up bliss and illumination in equal measure - from the pleasures of the flesh to the events that convulsed the world in a year of change. Paul Kelly meditates on Frank Sinatra, and Robert Manne excavates the past and thoughts of Julian Assange. Inga Clendinnen dreams on cricket, and Anna Krien delves into the saga of the St Kilda schoolgirl. There is Peter Robb on Italian food, Anthony Lane on News of the World. Gail Bell on rats and Richard Flanagan on photography. This is a collection with something for everyone that never wavers in its quality.

Gillian Mears Youthful Desire
David Malouf Happiness in the Flesh
Nicolas Rothwell Catastrophe in the Kimberley
Robert Manne Julian Assange
Anthony Lane Phone Hacking
M.J. Hyland Trial by Internet
Craig Sherborne Inside Jobs
Anna Krien Sex and Footy
Peter Conrad Chis Lilley
Inga Clendinnen Cricket Memories
Gail Bell In the Rat Room
Helen Elliott Distraction
Morris Lurie On Not Writing
Maria Tumarkin An Historian Gone Wrong
Andrew Sant Self-knowledge
Shakira Hussein Nine-Eleven-itis
Lian Hearn Japan after the Earthquakes
Amanda Lohrey David Walsh and MONA
Paul Kelly Frank Sinatra
Peter Robb Real Italian Food
Clive James On Broadway
Delia Falconer Sweating in Sydney
Richard Flanagan Two Outsider Artists
Andrew O'Hagan Going West