As we reflect on the past year, a assortment of outstanding long-form pieces shines. Such accounts probe multifaceted themes including geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal stories.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin became known in the nineties with biting satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. It raises a pertinent query: Has he evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only route out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could now put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally changing the history of our species. But, not everyone was in agreement. The resulting intense scholarly debate has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.
A British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Many voters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A documentary following a remorseful fraudster as she sets up unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is this person really a new person, and is the director's true intentions?
A Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their most challenging times, families turn to him to restore order.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by debates over its collection, strained finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it repair its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology permeate the very highest echelons of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp mind and impeccable background, it's little wonder that wealthy clients entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get wary.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has become a key actor on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are fueling this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader enjoys the international stage, where he positions himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
The End of a Global Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret
When actions were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the precise story of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered vast amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the prospect that their home may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his situation might turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he could possess the answers to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.
The finest narratives
