The Best Feature Reads of 2025: A Collection of Compelling Writing

Upon reflect on the past year, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces emerges. Such narratives probe complex subjects from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply personal sagas.

The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation

A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with scathing satires on power. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced suppression or fled the country, he still move vast numbers of books. This prompts a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Civil War

The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the regime military. After 14 years, his history as one of Assad's fighters might still get him killed.

The Fierce Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was hailed as radically changing the history of our human race. However, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing heated controversy has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.

A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of abuse it had carried out.

The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

A great many followers anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been strikingly mixed.

Challenging a Nation's Myth

A film featuring a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises thorny questions: Is she really reformed, and what are the director's true intentions?

The Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains

From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging hours, people turn to him to restore order.

Can an Famous Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Beset by debates over its collection, strained funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Condition

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable medical end – until possibly now.

The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government

A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the highest echelons of government.

An English Professional With a Dishonest Secret

With his brilliant intellect and impeccable background, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become suspicious.

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

An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a significant force on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented project?

A Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Battle

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he positions himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.

Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story

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

An End of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was far from unexpected.

The Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women

When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the precise truth of what happened is still partially shrouded.

A "Genius" of the Attention Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and given away vast sums of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of artistic genius?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas

With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the reality that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The pressing question is: To where are they supposed to go?

A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution

As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life could turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.

The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Pivotal Move

In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may hold the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.

The most impactful journalism