While we look back on the past year, a curated list of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such narratives delve into complex subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
A Puzzling Writer and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on power. Whereas numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of copies. This raises a pertinent question: Has the author become an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only route out of prison was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers could still put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was hailed as completely changing the narrative of our species. However, some scholars was persuaded. The ensuing bitter controversy has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Numerous followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's commitment to international law. But, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Challenging a Nation's Myth
A documentary following a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording poses complex queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and is the director's own motives?
The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging hours, people turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Renowned Museum Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, Britain's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical end – up until perhaps now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the very highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp intellect and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a key player on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to handle a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn infant?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of the events is still partially shrouded.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the reality that their home may in the near future be submerged. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his situation might improve. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A Global AI Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the answers to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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