The Bedside Guardian 2024

It was billed as the ‘year of elections’, with more voters going to the polls across the world than any year in history. A triumph of global democracy? Perhaps. But in reality, the news cycle of 2024 has been dominated by conflict – wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine that rage on with no end in sight.

It was a year of other seismic disruptions, too: an assassination attempt on a US presidential candidate, riots on the streets of the UK, the spread of climate and antiwar protests, a surge of the right in Europe, Labour back in power after 15 years.

Bringing together the best coverage of all this and more, The Bedside Guardian is the essential companion to make sense of the past 12 months. Whether it’s John Crace on Sunak’s rain-sodden swansong, Kojo Koram’s moving tribute to his home town of Southport, or Laura Snapes on the meaning of Taylor Swift, you will find in these pages the intelligent analysis, provocative opinions, quirky humour and first-hand reporting for which the Guardian is prized.

 

The Bedside Guardian 2024 is edited by Clare Longrigg, with a foreword by José Andrés.

‘For many people under 25 – whether brown or black or white – the daily pulverisation of Gaza is the totemic international issue of their time, just as the Iraq war was 20 years ago or apartheid in South Africa was for me as a kid.’
Aditya Chakrabortty on a school strike in Luton

‘It’s incredible to think that only a short while ago we thought we’d eradicated measles and Nigel Farage. Both have now been brought back, largely by the same people.’
Marina Hyde on the election results

‘It will be the new must-have for every Donald Trump acolyte. The indelible image of the former US president, ear bloodied and fist raised as Secret Service agents try to rush him away from a would-be assassin’s bullets, has already been turned into a $35 T-shirt with a simple legend: “Fight! Fight! Fight!”’
David Smith on Trump’s brush with death

Clare Longrigg has been deputy editor of the Guardian Long Read since it launched in 2014. Before that she worked in news and features, on the Saturday magazine and G2. She also contributes articles and podcasts for the Guardian on organised crime.

José Andrés is a Spanish-born celebrity chef and founder of the food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK). Focusing on local chefs to create resilience, his organisation has brought relief to people stricken by natural disasters and war from Haiti to Greece, Puerto Rico and Ukraine. His volunteers were delivering food in Gaza when they were hit by Israeli missiles on 1 April. He has been named Best Chef and Humanitarian of the Year, and this year was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.