A Best Long-Form Stories of the Year: An Selection of Profound Writing

Upon consider the year gone by, a curated list of remarkable feature-length pieces stands out. These accounts delve into multifaceted themes from political machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.

A Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country

An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on authoritarianism. Whereas many of his literary peers have encountered censorship or left the country, he still move vast numbers of copies. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?

Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict

The story of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.

The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings

The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was hailed as completely re-writing the narrative of our human race. Yet, some scholars was convinced. The resulting intense scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The UK Sect That Operated in the Open

One woman was just a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.

A Statesman's Curious Stance on International Law

A great many followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.

Breaking a Nation's Self-Image

A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she truly a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?

A Person Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their darkest hours, people turn to him to restore peace.

Can an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it restore its reputation?

More Than "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Condition

Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical solution – up until possibly now.

A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings influence the highest levels of government.

An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side

With his sharp mind and sterling credentials, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become wary.

A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub

An astonishingly rich Gulf state has become a significant force on the international scene, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?

A Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle

Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader enjoys the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.

During the Trial of a Tragic Case

What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn baby?

The Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.

The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When details about a scientific study in the sixties became public, there was widespread shock. But the precise nature of the events remains partially shrouded.

The "Master" of the Attention Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde brilliance?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the prospect that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: Where are they going to go?

A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness

When I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his situation could turn around. That hope was tragically wrong.

The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move

In the recent past, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could hold the answers to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.

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