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

While we look back on the previous year, a curated list of remarkable feature-length articles emerges. Such pieces probe multifaceted subjects from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal journeys.

A Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Country

An author rose to fame in the nineties with scathing commentaries on power. While many of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This poses a key query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?

Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's fighters might still cost him his life.

A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Ancient Beginnings

The finding of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the history of our species. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The resulting bitter controversy has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.

The UK Sect That Operated in the Open

Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of mistreatment it had committed.

The Statesman's Curious Record on Human Rights

Many voters anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the record over the past year has been notably ambiguous.

Shattering a Nation's Identity

A documentary featuring a remorseful con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's own motives?

A Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes

From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest moments, families depend on him to bring back order.

Will an Renowned Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by restitution claims, precarious funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until possibly now.

The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government

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

An English Professional With a Crooked Side

With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.

The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Hub

An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a significant player on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this ambitious project?

A Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle

Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Case

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?

An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.

A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the full truth of the procedures remains partially contested.

A "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and given away enormous sums of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas

With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to go?

A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness

When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his situation could improve. I was sadly mistaken.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Move

In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he might possess the answers to who wins the worldwide AI race.

The most impactful stories