While we reflect on the year gone by, a selection of exceptional long-form stories emerges. These accounts probe intricate themes from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to deeply personal sagas.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
An author gained prominence in the nineties with sharp commentaries on power. Whereas numerous of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. This raises a pressing query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole route to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. After fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers might still cost him his life.
A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the story of our species. Yet, some scholars was in agreement. The resulting intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the appalling scale of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to human rights. However, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A film following a repentant con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras raises complex questions: Is this person really reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own methods?
The Man Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, families rely on him to restore order.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, strained finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it restore its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable treatment end – up until possibly now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology permeate the very highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their wealth. Until they started to become uneasy.
The Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What are behind this unprecedented role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for International Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
The Dismantling of a Major Aid Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the full story of the procedures remains somewhat shrouded.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days underground – and showered huge sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the possibility that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
A Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. Even then believed his situation might improve. I was sadly misplaced.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could possess the key to who prevails in the global AI race.
The finest narratives
