A Best Long-Form Stories of 2025: An Selection of Compelling Writing

Upon consider the past year, a selection of outstanding in-depth stories emerges. Such pieces probe complex subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply human stories.

The Enigmatic Author and the Conscience of a Nation

An author rose to fame in the nineties with scathing commentaries on power. Whereas several of his literary peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. It raises a key query: Has he become an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict

The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole route out of prison was to enlist in the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.

A Bitter Dispute Over Our Ancient Beginnings

The unearthing of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our human race. Yet, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of scholars ever since.

The UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.

The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Numerous followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.

Shattering a Country's Self-Image

A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses complex queries: Is she truly changed, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?

The Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging moments, families depend on him to restore normalcy.

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

Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – until potentially now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the highest echelons of the state.

The English Professional With a Dishonest Side

With his sharp intellect and sterling reputation, it's understandable that wealthy clients trusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy.

A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Center

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a key player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented role?

An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry

Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Case

How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?

An Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.

The Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women

When information about a medical study in the 1960s came to light, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of the procedures remains partially unclear.

The "Master" of the Online Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and given away vast sums of money to lucky participants. But are these stunts simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of artistic genius?

Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas

With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The pressing question is: Where are they going to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then hoped his life might change for the better. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.

The Global AI Race and a Pivotal Move

In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may possess the key to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.

The most impactful narratives