Stephen Smith
05 February 2025
Down in the dumps: Inside London’s sewers
After 150 years, the city’s Victorian sewers are at last being upgraded – but Thames Water remains firmly lodged in the financial mire
Read the full article14 December 2024
The dangers of Putin’s dark fleet
A secret armada of condemned tankers is breaking sanctions by transporting Russian oil around the world. The threat to the environment is huge
Read the full article04 December 2024
‘The Prince’ under the hammer
A 1532 first edition of Machiavelli’s The Prince, which are vanishingly hard to come by, has just come on the market
Read the full article28 July 2024
Freud vs the US
A revised English version of the psychoanalyst’s texts reveals a tirade against Americans – but also a suggestion that he may have studied the president himself
Read the full article15 June 2024
Death and football in Palermo
In a Sicilian pizzeria, take care when arguing over the bill
Read the full article08 November 2023
True artist or con artist? The story of Take the Money and Run
Jens Haaning’s fans call the stunt a daring conceptual piece of satire. However, a Danish court says it’s a crime
Read the full article23 August 2023
Romancing the stones of Naples
The city’s unloved museum of archaeology shines after a makeover that makes its treasure trove of objects sing
Read the full article12 November 2022
Government versus the arts
No 10 has mistaken excellence for elitism. The results could be disastrous
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