Ignore its uptight reputation. Mansfield Park, celebrating its 200th anniversary, seethes with sex and delves into England’s murkiest corners, writes Paula Byrne.

Historians agree that the shameful events of the 2014 New Zealand General Election started on Sunday, August 10, when Winston Peters, in his speech at the NZ First campaign launch, used the classic “two Wongs don’t make a white/right” gag.

Stunning and soulful singing catapulted her from church choir to chart success and then on to Hollywood. But when three members of her family were murdered, it took all she had to keep going. Jennifer Hudson talks to Tim Adams about surviving grief.

The worldwide domination of a building blocks game is a triumph for the power of human imagination. John Naughton looks at how Minecraft has bewitched 40 million of us.

The rest of the world is now sending us some of their best wines, which enables us to see what all the fuss is about. These are worth checking out.

Look sharp in graphic black and white.

Our growing ability to access on-demand entertainment is all well and good, writes Greg Dixon, but what we really need is more time.

You can always tell. No matter what time of day (though around dinner-time is always a bit of a giveaway) you just know, the moment it starts ringing.

Step aside, Suzi Quattro. The jumpsuit gets a classy makeover.

The menu was a cool, hand-drawn selection of breakfast options with a Southeast Asian flair.

This is a very strange book. It's about Neil Gaiman, so it can probably afford to be.

Gerard Woodward’s family gave him plenty of material to write about, but it took years to work out how, he tells Linda Herrick.

Sebastian Barry’s latest novel is a narrative of disintegration and self-destruction, written in the most lyrical of language.

The best thing about the Commonwealth Games is that they are exactly like the Olympics except we win heaps more medals.

What does it take to save a baby's life? Suzanne McFadden traces the incredible story of a baby's will to live.

Graphic images show the extremes of life worldwide. Paul Lewis reviews the World Press Photo exhibition.

It’s a pity there are so few American wines available here as many of them are drop-dead gorgeous. True, many are extraordinarily expensive but those that find their way here are usually of astonishing quality and value for money.

The council's new cobblestones will look cool when they're finished, but at the moment O'Connell St is a bit of a mess.

Cliff Curtis’ turn as a bipolar chess champ may be his greatest role yet. He talks to Russell Baillie about piling on weight, confronting his past, and being a family man.