A Best Feature Reads of the Year: A Collection of Profound Writing

Upon consider the previous year, a assortment of remarkable feature-length stories emerges. These narratives explore multifaceted themes from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.

The Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation

Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the 1990s with biting commentaries on power. Whereas many of his literary peers have encountered censorship or fled the country, he continues to move millions of copies. It prompts a pressing question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War

The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole route out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers may now get him killed.

The Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Origins

The unearthing of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as radically changing the history of our human race. But, a faction was convinced. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A UK Sect That Hid in the Open

One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of abuse it had carried out.

A Leader's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the track record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.

Challenging a Nation's Self-Image

A documentary following a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares corrupt clients with covert recording poses difficult questions: Is this person truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?

The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest times, people depend on him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Renowned Institution Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Beset by restitution claims, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its reputation?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an reliable medical end – up until perhaps now.

A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of the state.

An English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his brilliant mind and sterling credentials, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.

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

An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?

A Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle

Deeply disliked at home, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Story

How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?

The Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.

A Disturbing 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was widespread shock. But the precise nature of the events remains partially contested.

A "Mozart" of the Online Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away enormous amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?

Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas

With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The critical issue is: To where are they supposed to relocate?

One Tragic Case of Youth Destitution

When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his situation could improve. That hope was sadly mistaken.

The Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could possess the secret to who wins the worldwide AI race.

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