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The mysterious novelist who foresaw Putin’s Russia – and then came to symbolise its moral decay – Sophie Pinkham
Victor Pelevin made his name in 90s Russia with scathing satires of authoritarianism. But while his literary peers have faced censorship and fled the country, he still sells millions. Has he become a Kremlin apologist?
The reluctant collaborator: surviving Syria’s brutal civil war – and its aftermath – Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
At 18, Mustafa was told his only way out of prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his past as one of Assad’s fighters could get him killed
The curse of Toumaï: an ancient skull, a disputed femur and a bitter feud over humanity’s origins – Scott Sayare
When fossilised remains were discovered in the Djurab desert in 2001, they were hailed as radically rewriting the history of our species. But not everyone was convinced – and the bitter argument that followed has consumed the lives of scholars ever since
The rise and fall of the British cult that hid in plain sight – Barbara Speed
Philippa Barnes was a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – Daniel Trilling
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixed
The real Scandi noir: how a film-maker and a crooked lawyer shattered Denmark’s self-image – Samanth Subramanian
The Black Swan follows a repentant master criminal as she sets up corrupt clients in front of hidden cameras. But is she really reformed – and is the director up to his own tricks?
The human stain remover: what Britain’s greatest extreme cleaner learned from 25 years on the job – Tom Lamont
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen it – and cleaned it – all. In their stickiest hours, people rely on him to restore order
‘The ghosts are everywhere’: can the British Museum survive its omni-crisis? – Charlotte Higgins
Beset by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the discovery of a thief on the inside, Britain’s No 1 museum is in deep trouble. Can it restore its reputation?
Don’t call it morning sickness: ‘At times in my pregnancy I wondered if this was death coming for me’ – Abi Stephenson
The Victorians called it ‘pernicious vomiting of pregnancy’, but modern medicine has offered no end to the torture of hyperemesis gravidarum – until now
Kahane’s ghost: how a long-dead extremist rabbi continues to haunt Israel’s politics – Joshua Leifer
A violent fanatic and pioneer in bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideas influence the very highest levels of government
An English gentleman, a crooked lawyer: the secrets of Stephen David Jones – Hettie O’Brien
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it’s little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious
The go-between: how Qatar became the global capital of diplomacy – Nesrine Malik
The tiny, astonishingly wealthy country has become a major player on the world stage, trying to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What’s driving this project?
The Shining: my trip to the G7 horror show with Emmanuel Macron – Emmanuel Carrère
Deeply unpopular in France, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to handle Trump. Seven years after our last encounter, I joined him as he prepared for battle
‘A relentless, destructive energy’: inside the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon – Sophie Elmhirst
How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
‘They take the money and go’: why not everyone is mourning the end of USAID – Mara Kardas-Nelson
When Donald Trump set about dismantling USAID, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, the latest betrayal was not unexpected
The Coventry experiment: why were Indian women in Britain given radioactive food without their consent? – Samira Shackle
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was shock, outrage and anxiety. But exactly what happened?
‘The Mozart of the attention economy’: why MrBeast is the world’s biggest YouTube star – Mark O’Connell
He’s spent 24 hours immersed in slime, two days buried alive – and showered vast amounts of cash on lucky participants. But are MrBeast’s videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a ‘sinking nation’: Tuvalu’s dreams of dry land – Atul Dev
With sea levels rising, much of the nation’s population is confronting the prospect that their home may soon cease to exist. Where are they going to go?
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong – Pamela Gordon
I knew he was running away from something. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered the truth
‘I have to do it’: Why one of the world’s most brilliant AI scientists left the US for China – Chang Che
In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now he might hold the key to who wins the global AI race
And finally: In case you’re curious, these were our Top 10 most read pieces of 2025 and these were the 10 most read pieces from our archive. And here are our best ofs for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
The best stories take time. From politics to philosophy, personal stories to true crime, discover a selection of the Guardian’s finest longform journalism, in one beautiful edition. In the new Guardian Long Read Magazine, you’ll find pieces on how MrBeast became the world’s biggest YouTube star, how Emmanuel Macron deals with Donald Trump, and shocking revelations at the British Museum. Order your copy today at the Guardian bookshop.
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