This reissue of a highly controversial book examines how a nation's history is always open to interpretation and chronicles various battling viewpoints observed in infamy by many Australians. A detailed summary of the relationships between historians, cultural critics, and major social figures, this work records fascinating stories such as historian Manning Clark's public exposure as a Soviet agent, the ferocious parliamentary debate on immigration sparked by historian Geoffrey Blainey, and the story of editor Robert Manne's defense of indigenous Australians. This new edition includes a new chapter by the authors, as well as a new foreword exploring the book's relevance in its original publication.