Upon look back on the past year, a selection of exceptional long-form pieces emerges. Such pieces delve into intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
An author became known in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. While several of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. This prompts a pertinent query: Has the author turned into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could still get him killed.
A Bitter Feud Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was hailed as radically re-writing the story of our human race. However, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent intense argument has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling extent of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Numerous supporters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Country's Myth
A film tracking a repentant con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises thorny questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and is the director's true intentions?
The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest times, families depend on him to bring back peace.
Can an Famous Museum Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an effective treatment end – up until potentially now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp mind and impeccable background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to get uneasy.
A Tiny State That Became the Global Mediation Capital
An incredibly wealthy country has become a key actor on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to handle a particular former US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn baby?
The End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the precise truth of the procedures is still somewhat unclear.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days underground – and showered enormous amounts of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then believed his situation might improve. That hope was sadly wrong.
The Global AI Race and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The best narratives
