The long read
In-depth reporting, essays and profiles
Chortle chortle, scribble scribble: inside the Old Bailey with Britain’s last court reporters – podcast
The cases heard at the Old Bailey offer a vivid, often grim portrait of England and Wales today. What happens when there is no one left to tell these stories? By Sophie Elmhirst
‘I’m good, I promise’: the loneliness of the low-ranking tennis player – podcast
I was once Ireland’s No 1 player, and tried for years to climb the global ranks. But life at the bottom of the top can be brutal. By Conor Niland
From the KKK to the state house: how neo-Nazi David Duke won office
The long read: In the 1970s, David Duke was grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. In the 80s, he was elected to Louisiana’s house of representatives – and the kinds of ideas he stood for have not gone away
From the archive: ‘As borders closed, I became trapped in my Americanness’: China, the US and me – podcast
This week, from 2021: I’ve long nursed vague plans of moving back to China for a few years, to solidify my place there. But with each year that passes in the US, such a move gets harder and harder to make. By Cleo Qian
My family and other Nazis
The long read: My father did terrible things during the second world war, and my other relatives were equally unrepentant. But it wasn’t until I was in my late 50s that I started to confront this dark past
‘If there’s nowhere else to go, this is where they come’: how Britain’s libraries provide much more than books – podcast
In 2024, libraries are unofficial creches, homeless shelters, language schools and asylum support providers – filling the gaps left by a state that has reneged on its responsibilities. By Aida Edemariam
‘How do I heal?’: the long wait for justice after a black man dies in police custody – podcast
The true number of black people who have died after contact with the police has been hidden, while their families are faced with delays and denials. By Raekha Prasad
Food, water, wifi: is this the future of humanitarian aid?
The long read: Working in food aid delivery, I have seen the benefits of embracing new technologies. But some problems need to be solved between humans
From the archive: The elephant vanishes: how a circus family went on the run – podcast
This week, from 2021: Dumba has spent her life performing in circuses around Europe, but in recent years animal rights activists have been campaigning to rescue her. When it looked like they might succeed, Dumba and her owners disappeared. By Laura Spinney
‘A diagnosis can sweep away guilt’: the delicate art of treating ADHD
The long read: For children with ADHD, getting the help they need depends on being correctly diagnosed. As a doctor, I have seen how tricky and frustrating a process that can be
Dirty waters: how the Environment Agency lost its way – podcast
Having created a watchdog for the environment, the government took its teeth out and muzzled it. Can public outrage rouse the Environment Agency to action? By Hettie O’Brien
Inside Mexico’s anti-avocado militias – podcast
The spread of the avocado is a story of greed, ambition, corruption, water shortages, cartel battles and, in a number of towns and villages, a fierce fightback. By Alexander Sammon
Chortle chortle, scribble scribble: inside the Old Bailey with Britain’s last court reporters
The long read: The cases heard at the Old Bailey offer a vivid, often grim portrait of England and Wales today. What happens when there is no one left to tell these stories?
From the archive: ‘Colonialism had never really ended’: my life in the shadow of Cecil Rhodes – podcast
This week, from 2021: After growing up in a Zimbabwe convulsed by the legacy of colonialism, when I got to Oxford I realised how many British people still failed to see how empire had shaped lives like mine – as well as their own. By Simukai Chigudu
‘It comes for your very soul’: how Alzheimer’s undid my dazzling, creative wife in her 40s
The long read: By the time my wife got a diagnosis, her long and harrowing deterioration had already begun. By the end, I was in awe of her
Where the wild things are: the untapped potential of our gardens, parks and balconies – podcast
Gardens could be part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis. But what are we doing? Disappearing them beneath plastic and paving. By Kate Bradbury
Revolution in the air: how laughing gas changed the world
How the Tories pushed universities to the brink of disaster – podcast
From the archive: Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without losing hope – podcast
From 2021: It’s easy to despair at the climate crisis, or to decide it’s already too late – but it’s not. Here’s how to keep the fight alive. By Rebecca Solnit
How the Tories pushed universities to the brink of disaster
The long read: Over the past 14 years, the Conservative dream of a free market in higher education has collided with the harsh reality of austerity and the cultural resentment of the radical right – driving some institutions close to bankruptcy
About 2,365 results for The long read 
