A Best Long-Form Stories of the Year: A Compendium of Profound Narratives

As we look back on the year gone by, a assortment of outstanding long-form stories emerges. These accounts delve into complex themes ranging from political machinations and scientific revelations to deeply human journeys.

A Mysterious Writer and the Soul of a Nation

An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. Whereas numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. It raises a pressing question: Has he turned into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Conflict

The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole path out of prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's fighters might still get him killed.

The Bitter Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings

The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.

A UK Religious Group That Hid in the Open

One woman was just a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the appalling breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.

The Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law

Numerous followers anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been notably mixed.

Breaking a Country's Identity

A film following a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person truly changed, and what are the filmmaker's own intentions?

The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest moments, individuals turn to him to bring back order.

Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?

Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent treatment end – until potentially now.

A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics

A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology shape the very highest levels of government.

The British Professional With a Crooked Secret

With his sharp mind and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that wealthy clients entrusted him with their wealth. Until they started to become wary.

A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital

An extremely rich Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented role?

A Inside View at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry

Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to deal with a particular former American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.

Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case

What led to the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?

The Dismantling of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unexpected.

A Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the precise story of what happened remains partially shrouded.

A "Genius" of the Online Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed huge amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas

With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they going to go?

One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution

As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still hoped his life might change for the better. I was sadly wrong.

A International AI Race and a Pivotal Defection

In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.

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