While we look back on the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories emerges. Such narratives probe multifaceted topics including political machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin became known in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. While many of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the country, he continues to move millions of copies. This prompts a key query: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole way to escape incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. But, a faction was persuaded. The resulting bitter argument has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped uncover the disturbing extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Numerous followers hoped that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A film following a repentant fraudster as she ensnares corrupt individuals with covert recording raises difficult queries: Is she truly changed, and is the filmmaker's true methods?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest times, people depend on him to restore peace.
Can an Renowned Institution Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an effective medical solution – until perhaps now.
The Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the very highest levels of the state.
An British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp intellect and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become uneasy.
A Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major force on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are driving this unprecedented project?
A Inside View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
A Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the precise nature of what happened remains partially shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his situation might turn around. I was sadly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the answers to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The finest narratives
