Special Report

One year from now, on Tuesday, 6 November, 2012, Americans will elect, or reelect, their president. Mike Pilewski looks at the major candidates for the office.

The Da Vinci Code is one of the most popular books of all time. This makes its author, Dan Brown, a millionaire, a superstar and the one writer who can help make the book business profitable this year.

Our Special Report looks back at The Da Vinci Code, focuses on Angels & Demons and looks forward to The Lost Symbol.

"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood" is how Angela's Ashes begins. Frank McCourt achieved literary fame with his story of his early life in Limerick.

Memphis, Tennessee, is mentioned in Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones. The city is also the subject of many rock, pop and country songs, including Memphis by Chuck Berry and Graceland by Paul Simon.

It's been 220 years since the first European colonists arrived in Australia — and at least 40,000 years since the Aborigines arrived from Asia. While the Europeans tried to tame the land, the Aboriginal people adapted remarkbly well to their natural environment.