While we reflect on the previous year, a curated list of exceptional long-form pieces stands out. These pieces explore complex themes from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human journeys.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on authoritarianism. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he still move millions of copies. It prompts a pressing query: Has the author become an supporter for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.
The Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically changing the history of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.
A British Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the shocking scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Numerous supporters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. However, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she records corrupt clients with covert recording poses thorny questions: Is this person really reformed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and restored – everything. In their stickiest times, individuals turn to him to restore peace.
Will an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by restitution claims, difficult finances and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its reputation?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable treatment remedy – until perhaps now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. Today, his teachings shape the very highest echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become uneasy.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. What are behind this unprecedented project?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on Indian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the full truth of the events is still somewhat contested.
A "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered huge amounts of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the reality that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to go?
A Tragic Story of Youth Homelessness
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation could turn around. I was tragically wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might possess the answers to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
The finest narratives
