Upon look back on the year gone by, a selection of exceptional long-form pieces stands out. These accounts probe complex themes ranging from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
A Puzzling Writer and the Conscience of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with sharp critiques on authoritarianism. While many of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he still move millions of books. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was proclaimed as completely re-writing the story of our human race. However, a faction was persuaded. The resulting bitter argument has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the shocking scale of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on International Law
A great many supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A film tracking a repentant fraudster as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true intentions?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, families depend on him to restore peace.
Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, strained funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology shape the very highest levels of the state.
The British Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get suspicious.
A Small State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An incredibly rich Gulf state has become a significant force on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense outrage. But the precise story of the events is still partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away enormous sums of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their islands may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
A Tragic Case of Youth Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his life might improve. I was sadly mistaken.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
The best narratives
