The Fraud
Published
2023
Pages
323
Language
English
ISBN
9780241983119
About this book
Book of the Year 2023 according to New York Times, New Yorker, Guardian, Economist, Observer, The Spectator, Financial Times, Vogue, The Times, The Oldie, i Paper, The Standard, Washington Post, Independent, Daily Express SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 SHORTLISTED FOR THE WRITERS’ PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024 ONE OF SARAH JESSICA PARKER’S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2024 ‘A writer at the peak of her powers’ The Telegraph Truth and fiction. Jamaica and Britain. Who gets to tell their story? In her first historical novel, Zadie Smith transports the reader to a Victorian England transfixed by the real-life trial of the Tichborne Claimant, in which a cockney butcher, recently returned from Australia, lays claim to the Tichborne baronetcy, with his former slave Andrew Bogle as star witness. Watching the proceedings, and with her own story to tell, is Eliza Touchet – cousin, housekeeper and perhaps more – to failing novelist William Harrison Ainsworth. From literary London to the Jamaica’s sugar-cane plantations, Zadie Smith weaves an enthralling story linking the rich and the poor, the free and the enslaved, and the comic and the tragic. ‘It’s difficult to give any idea of how extraordinary this book is. One of the great historical novels, certainly. But has any historical novel ever combined such brilliantly researched and detailed history with such intensely imagined fiction?' Michael Frayn ‘As always it is a pleasure to be in Zadie Smith’s mind . . . Dickens may be dead, but Smith, thankfully, is alive’ New York Times ‘Zadie Smith’s Victorian-set masterpiece holds a mirror up to Britain . . . The Fraud is the genuine article’ Independent ‘Smith’s dazzling historical novel combines deft writing and strenuous construction in a tale of literary London and the horrors of slavery’ Guardian Instant Sunday Times bestseller, September 2023
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The Fraud is a masterfully crafted historical novel, offering a profound exploration of truth, justice, and narrative power. It's a must-read for literary fiction enthusiasts, history buffs, and those seeking a deeply engaging and thought-provoking experience. However, readers preferring light, fast-paced narratives might find its intricate historical detail and literary style less accessible.
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Zadie Smith's historical novel, The Fraud, transports readers to Victorian England, centering on the sensational Tichborne Claimant trial. A cockney butcher claims a baronetcy, with his former slave, Andrew Bogle, as a key witness. Through the eyes of Eliza Touchet, the story intertwines literary London with Jamaica's sugar plantations, exploring themes of truth, class, and freedom. It's a compelling narrative linking the rich and poor, free and enslaved.
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