“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith is a richly woven historical novel that delves into the infamous Tichborne Trial—a real-life legal battle in 19th-century England. Through the eyes of Eliza Touchet, the housekeeper and cousin-in-law of Victorian novelist W. Harrison Ainsworth, we explore questions of credibility, class, and public opinion. Smith’s storytelling skillfully navigates overlapping lives and perspectives, making this a captivating exploration of truth and perception.

Having fond memories of Zadie Smith's *White Teeth*, which I found to be an outstanding read, I eagerly anticipated *The Fraud*. The premise promised a compelling narrative, but the reality left much to be desired.

While Smith's ambition to encapsulate significant historical moments is commendable, the execution feels disjointed. The novel attempts to juggle multiple personal histories and historical events, resulting in a narrative that to this reader often feels scattered. Just as one becomes immersed in Bogle's intriguing history, the story abruptly shifts to a different timeline and plot, disrupting the flow and coherence.

In the end, *The Fraud* comes across as an overstuffed novel that struggles to maintain a cohesive storyline amidst its myriad plot points and timelines. Despite some moments of interest, the constant shifts left me feeling adrift and longing for a more focused narrative.

In sum a disappointing read, falling short of the high expectations set by Smith's earlier works. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I was provided in exchange for my honest review.

A surprisingly page-turning blend of historical fiction and social commentary, set against a masterful blend of historical fiction and social commentary, set against the backdrop of the 19th-century England. The narrator, Eliza Touchet, her cousin, the once-famous novelist William Harrison Ainsworth, and their family are based on detailed census records, and the plot revolves around the sensational court case of the man who assumes the identity of real-life figure Roger Tichborne, an English aristocrat believed to have drowned.

In a recent article for The New Yorker, Zadie Smith joked that she moved away from London, her childhood home and the primary subject of her work, because she didn't want to write a historical novel. "Any writer who lives in England for any length of time," she wrote, "will sooner or later find herself writing a historical novel, whether she wants to or not." It seems the pressure got to her eventually though - and so much the better, for The Fraud is possibly her most ambitious work to date. The novel is anchored by the bizarre "Tichbourne Case" that gripped London in the 1870s, in which Arthur Orton, a butcher from Wapping, was put on trial for claiming to be Sir Roger Tichbourne, the long-presumed-dead heir of a vast fortune. But the trial is only a small aspect of the story. The plot spirals out far beyond the courtroom, grappling with class, gender, and racial politics from slave plantations in Jamaica to the salons of London's literary elite. With caustic wit, Smith deftly unravels the interplay between these various social forces, creating a vision of Victorian Britain that is as rich and multifarious as the era it's set in.

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I enjoyed the story(ies) told in The Fraud, but the book itself felt disjointed. So much of the book was just TOLD to the reader. It was like seeing the pictures from someone's vacation to Italy and saying you went to Italy on vacation. The reader wasn't taken on a journey throughout the book. We were just told a story. And it wasn't from A to Z, either. More like A-J-D-B-R-L.....Z. I did love the research that went into the novel and I had never heard of the Tichborne case and enjoyed learning about that little bit of British history.

While I have enjoyed some of Zadie Smith’s previous work this book did not work for me at all. It was a slog to get thru and the multiple storylines never coalesced into something to care about.

Zadie Smith is a master of her craft. She writes so beautifully on any number of topics, which was certainly the case here. Was I particularly invested in this story? No. Was I invested in reading every word she wrote? YES. This was not on par with White Teeth or On Beauty for me, but it was interesting and a unique take on historical fiction. And of course, gorgeously, perfectly written.

I had a hard time following this one with all the back and forth between time periods—it was hard to keep track of when things were happening and who the characters were. I didn’t feel drawn into this and had to force myself to get through it.

Wow--what a book! This masterpiece has been on every Best Books of 2023's list.
It centers around a Scottish housekeeper who is a cousin to a famous British author (the author is based on the real-life author). She is the narrator of the book and unravels an amazing, authentic time in British history, the Tichborne Trial.
Yet, the story is a reflection of human behavior, as the title indicates. Fraud is depicted in so many ways throughout the book. English gentry and all its accoutrements are juxtaposed against the poverty and slavery of Jamaica. Smith accomplishes this in such a gripping and unique manner.
The writing is brilliant but you certainly had to concentrate. So much is going on throughout these pages .
Amazing book!

This one took me awhile to get through, but I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed the real characters and events woven into the fictional story. Here's hoping Smith continues to channel her inner Dickens and writes more historical fiction.

Stellar historical fiction. I enjoyed the narration from Mrs Touchet's point of view, and particularly liked the long digression of Mr Bogle's life story.

Another wonderful book by this author. She certainly knows how to do her research and to draw us all in. The characters, incredibly interesting and the story kept my interest.

As a Zadie Smith fan I really didn't know what to expect from historical fiction from her. This story has really stuck with me though. Her ability to infuse humor, sly and sometimes dark, into the mundane is something I really love. The way she creates relationships between her characters is often unexpected but always rich. I think in this case the genius of the story is the protagonist as a cipher for modern white women exploring their connection to race and their own whiteness. Smith pulls no punches if you're reading closely enough which is a bit thrilling. While not my favourite of hers, again, it won't quite let go of a hold on my brain.

I love Zadie Smith's writing. She can tell a good story like no other. This was her first foray into historical fiction and I always love it when authors pull more obscure historical characters into their stories. I had never heard of the Roger Tichborne case so that was fascinating to learn about. However, I felt the book was a little disjointed. It went back and forth in time and I was very confused by this for the majority of book. I never knew where we were in history.

What a thicket of a novel this is. Smith has a fine mind and a sharp intellect. Her portrait of Dickens and crew is amusing. Her scrutiny of the UK establishment’s seesaw relationship with slavery is timely and done with some care. Her depiction of the fraudster and his popularity of course has political relevance. But all jumbled up together, with a time frame that jumps back and forth? And a central character who is hard to pin down and a bit too modern for her boots? I didn’t think this came successfully together, though the reading of it had its moments.

This book sounded like it would be right up my alley, but unfortunately, I DNF'ed about 20 percent of the way through. I found it very slow-going and wanted to keep reading to see if it would pick up, but it is a bit long, so I cut my losses. I really want to be a Zadie Smith fan, though ... I might try some of her earlier works instead.

Thank to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
I'm just so disappointed. I tried reading this book three times. Twice in print, once on audio.
It never got off the ground and I never gained any interest in it at all.
Perhaps I will try again another time.

Courtesy of Netgalley I received the ARC of The Fraud by Zadie Smith. This ambitious historical novel takes place in Victorian England and also Jamaica. Focused on the year long Tichborne trial, the novelist William Ainsworth, his family and fellow writers, I was immersed in this well researched story of deception and injustice. I especially enjoyed Eliza Touchet, who evolved during the course of the trial into an astute observer and chronicler of human nature. The literary references added to the atmosphere and characterization, and helped to give context to this book. Definitely worth reading!

Reviewed this for The Boston Globe online and in print. A few takeaways:

Beautifully written historical fiction as well as typically dry and insightful Zadie Smith. At the center are several singular characters… Solipsistic and vain, these Ainsworths are vivid, amusing creations. While the specter of Dickens hangs over the proceedings, there’s something reminiscent of Trollope in The Fraud in how it strives to deeply blend the political and the domestic ... Along with Smith’s signature wry wit and the beautiful originality of her sentences, The Fraud’s strength lies in how it portrays Eliza’s awakening to the realities of race in 19th-century Britain ... While not an unmitigated success, The Fraud is absorbing, resonant and relevant. Grandly ambitious, it illuminates the social and political landscape of an era, though in privileging social commentary over characters and plot, it sometimes loses momentum.

I'm so sad to say that this was a bit of a slog for me! I am a Zadie fan, but this one was long and hard to get into. I'll be sure to read all of the things she writes in the future - but this was not my fave.