Sam Knight
Sam Knight is a staff writer at The New Yorker, based in London. He has profiled the British politicians Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, and Sadiq Khan for the magazine, and has written about Brexit, art fraud, soccer corruption, and the power of premonitions. His story “Follow the White Ball,” a profile of the snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan, was anthologized in the 2016 edition of “The Best American Sports Writing.” He writes a column for newyorker.com, Letter from the U.K. Previously, Knight was a contributing writer for the Guardian’s The Long Read, and his work has appeared in the Financial Times, Grantland, and Harper’s. His first book, “The Premonitions Bureau: A True Account of Death Foretold,” will be published in May, 2022.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Calamitous Arrest
Just months ago, the First Minister of Scotland was a hero to progressives and independence seekers. Then she resigned—merely the start of her downfall.
How a Disaster Expert Prepares for the Worst
Lucy Easthope, who has worked on major emergencies since 9/11, says that small interventions can make a significant difference.
Watching Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s Destroyer of Worlds
The Norwegian has set upon English soccer like a wrathful angel.
The Writer Changing How London Thinks About Its Food
Jonathan Nunn’s newsletter, Vittles, has brought an exploratory verve to a staid food scene.
Will Football Leaks Finally Blow Up the Premier League?
Rui Pinto, a Portuguese hacker, set into motion the investigation that now threatens the future of Manchester City, English soccer’s most successful team.
On the Picket Lines of Britain’s Shattered National Health Service
The N.H.S. is the country’s pride. But rolling strikes reveal a system in the midst of collapse.
Qatar Gets the World Cup Final It Paid For
France meets Argentina, and the legacy of the tournament is cemented, for better or for worse.
Max Pinckers’s Spectacular World Cup
Finding documentary photography’s blind spots at the world’s biggest sporting event.
At Qatar’s World Cup, Where Politics and Pleasure Collide
The first ten days were soccer as it is, rather than as you want it to be.
Toto Wolff, the Compulsive Perfectionist Behind Mercedes’s Formula 1 Team
Mercedes drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, dominated the world’s fastest motorsport for a decade. Now they can’t win a race.
The Case of the Disputed Lucian Freud
A collector thought he had bought a painting by the celebrated British artist. How far would he go to prove it?
In the Queue to Say Goodbye to the Queen
The Queen was waited on, and waited for, every moment of her life. In death, the tradition continues.
The Inadequate Answers of Liz Truss, Britain’s Likely Next Prime Minister
Boris Johnson’s probable successor is offering little comfort as a recession looms.
How Boris Johnson’s Government Finally Collapsed
In twenty-four hours, more than three dozen ministers and aides deserted the Prime Minister. On July 7th, he announced his plan to resign.
The Shameless Farce of Boris Johnson’s Attempt to Send Refugees to Rwanda
A plane was on the runway when the European Court of Human Rights interceded. Now Britain may leave the court.
Riding London’s Unexpectedly Fantastic Elizabeth Line
The new express train is four years late, wildly over budget, and beautiful as hell.
The Collateral Damage of Queen Elizabeth’s Glorious Reign
In Tina Brown’s “The Palace Papers,” other royals stand and wait, but what purpose do they serve?
Can the BBC Survive the British Government?
In its hundredth year, the broadcaster maintains a near-total reach—and faces a threat to its existence.
Robert Eggers’s Historical Visions Go Mainstream
“The Northman” may be the most accurate Viking movie ever made. It may also be the most ambitious.
The Endgame of the Oligarch Who Owns Chelsea
For many English people, and especially for soccer fans, Roman Abramovich was the original Russian oligarch.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Calamitous Arrest
Just months ago, the First Minister of Scotland was a hero to progressives and independence seekers. Then she resigned—merely the start of her downfall.
How a Disaster Expert Prepares for the Worst
Lucy Easthope, who has worked on major emergencies since 9/11, says that small interventions can make a significant difference.
Watching Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s Destroyer of Worlds
The Norwegian has set upon English soccer like a wrathful angel.
The Writer Changing How London Thinks About Its Food
Jonathan Nunn’s newsletter, Vittles, has brought an exploratory verve to a staid food scene.
Will Football Leaks Finally Blow Up the Premier League?
Rui Pinto, a Portuguese hacker, set into motion the investigation that now threatens the future of Manchester City, English soccer’s most successful team.
On the Picket Lines of Britain’s Shattered National Health Service
The N.H.S. is the country’s pride. But rolling strikes reveal a system in the midst of collapse.
Qatar Gets the World Cup Final It Paid For
France meets Argentina, and the legacy of the tournament is cemented, for better or for worse.
Max Pinckers’s Spectacular World Cup
Finding documentary photography’s blind spots at the world’s biggest sporting event.
At Qatar’s World Cup, Where Politics and Pleasure Collide
The first ten days were soccer as it is, rather than as you want it to be.
Toto Wolff, the Compulsive Perfectionist Behind Mercedes’s Formula 1 Team
Mercedes drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, dominated the world’s fastest motorsport for a decade. Now they can’t win a race.
The Case of the Disputed Lucian Freud
A collector thought he had bought a painting by the celebrated British artist. How far would he go to prove it?
In the Queue to Say Goodbye to the Queen
The Queen was waited on, and waited for, every moment of her life. In death, the tradition continues.
The Inadequate Answers of Liz Truss, Britain’s Likely Next Prime Minister
Boris Johnson’s probable successor is offering little comfort as a recession looms.
How Boris Johnson’s Government Finally Collapsed
In twenty-four hours, more than three dozen ministers and aides deserted the Prime Minister. On July 7th, he announced his plan to resign.
The Shameless Farce of Boris Johnson’s Attempt to Send Refugees to Rwanda
A plane was on the runway when the European Court of Human Rights interceded. Now Britain may leave the court.
Riding London’s Unexpectedly Fantastic Elizabeth Line
The new express train is four years late, wildly over budget, and beautiful as hell.
The Collateral Damage of Queen Elizabeth’s Glorious Reign
In Tina Brown’s “The Palace Papers,” other royals stand and wait, but what purpose do they serve?
Can the BBC Survive the British Government?
In its hundredth year, the broadcaster maintains a near-total reach—and faces a threat to its existence.
Robert Eggers’s Historical Visions Go Mainstream
“The Northman” may be the most accurate Viking movie ever made. It may also be the most ambitious.
The Endgame of the Oligarch Who Owns Chelsea
For many English people, and especially for soccer fans, Roman Abramovich was the original Russian oligarch.