The Best In-Depth Reads of the Year: An Collection of Profound Narratives

As we reflect on the year gone by, a assortment of outstanding feature-length pieces emerges. These pieces probe intricate subjects including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply human stories.

A Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation

Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on power. While many of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to move millions of books. This poses a pertinent query: Has he become an apologist for the regime?

Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict

The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape prison was to join the government forces. After 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still get him killed.

The Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings

The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the narrative of our species. However, not everyone was in agreement. The ensuing heated controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A UK Sect That Operated in the Open

One woman was just a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped reveal the appalling breadth of exploitation it had committed.

A Leader's Curious Record on International Law

Numerous followers expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously mixed.

Shattering a Country's Myth

A documentary following a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks difficult questions: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true intentions?

The Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Scenes

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their stickiest moments, individuals rely on him to restore peace.

Will an Renowned Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long been without an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.

The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology permeate the uppermost echelons of government.

An British Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his keen intellect and sterling reputation, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to become uneasy.

The Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital

An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a major player on the world stage, attempting to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious endeavor?

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

Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron enjoys the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?

The Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was far from unexpected.

The Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the exact nature of the procedures remains somewhat contested.

The "Genius" of the Online Economy

He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed vast sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean

With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: To where are they supposed to go?

One Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his life could improve. I was tragically misplaced.

A Global AI Competition and a Key Move

In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he could possess the secret to which nation prevails in the global AI race.

The best narratives