As we consider the past year, a selection of remarkable long-form pieces emerges. These narratives explore complex subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal journeys.
A Puzzling Author and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on power. While several of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he still move vast numbers of copies. This prompts a key query: Has he evolved into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole way to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally changing the story of our species. But, a faction was persuaded. The resulting heated controversy has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the shocking extent of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Leader's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many followers expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Self-Image
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is she genuinely a new person, and what are the director's own methods?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – it all. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Iconic Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent treatment remedy – up until potentially now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology shape the very highest levels of the state.
An British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Hub
An extremely rich Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are fueling this ambitious role?
A Inside View at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact story of the procedures is still somewhat unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered vast sums of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the reality that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his life might change for the better. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the secret to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
The best narratives
