As we consider the past year, a assortment of exceptional long-form pieces shines. Such accounts explore intricate subjects from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with biting commentaries on power. Although several of his literary peers have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It poses a pertinent query: Has he become an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path out of incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as radically changing the narrative of our species. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
The British Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the disturbing scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Statesman's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Many voters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person really a new person, and what are the director's own methods?
The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest moments, people depend on him to bring back peace.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Severe Condition
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable medical remedy – up until possibly now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Now, his teachings influence the highest levels of the state.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his sharp mind and sterling background, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a major player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this ambitious role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing 1960s Experiment on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the precise truth of the events is still somewhat contested.
A "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered vast sums of money to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Tragic Case of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then thought his situation could change for the better. I was tragically wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he may possess the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
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