While we consider the past year, a curated list of outstanding long-form stories emerges. Such pieces delve into complex topics ranging from political intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply human journeys.
The Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with sharp satires on power. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It prompts a pressing question: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole route out of incarceration was to join the regime military. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still cost him his life.
A Bitter Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as completely re-writing the history of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights
Many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.
Challenging a Country's Myth
A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she ensnares corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses thorny questions: Is she truly reformed, and what are the director's own intentions?
A Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest moments, people turn to him to restore order.
Can an Iconic Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an consistent treatment remedy – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Now, his ideas permeate the uppermost levels of the state.
An English Professional With a Crooked Side
With his keen mind and sterling reputation, it's no surprise that affluent clients trusted him with their assets. Then they began to get suspicious.
A Small State That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has become a major actor on the international scene, striving to solve some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to handle a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was far from unforeseen.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread shock. But the precise story of the procedures remains somewhat shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered huge sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or acts of daring brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the prospect that their home may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his situation might turn around. That hope was tragically misplaced.
The International AI Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may hold the key to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
The finest narratives
