the fraud by zadie smith 💰

[ad-gifted by @X via netgalley]

next up on my mission to preemptively read at least some of this year’s booker longlist was the latest offering from zadie smith, ‘the fraud’. smith has been longlisted for the award three times before with ‘the autograph man’ (2002), ‘on beauty’ (2005, shortlisted) and ‘swing time’ (2017), so there’s a high chance of her being recognised by the prize again. set in 19th century, ‘the fraud’ filters the real-life highly public trial of sir roger tichborne (a case to determine whether the claimant is the rightful heir to the large tichborne fortune) through the perspective of mrs. eliza touchet, a scottish housekeeper living in the service of her once-famous novelist cousin, william ainsworth. as the novel progresses, eliza becomes more deeply invested in the case and takes a particular interest in the supposed-gentleman’s servant, andrew bogle, a jamaican slave who grew up on a sugar plantation.

this is zadie’s first foray into recreating historical events and it’s a really stellar attempt! whilst the writing style is much stiffer than in her contemporary london novels, she is still able to maintain her trademark humour and playfulness which is something i wasn’t expecting from the historical setting. she is also playful in her portrayal of the victorian literati, poking fun at the white male writers of the ‘literary canon’, such as charles dickens and his peers.

however, where her writing is strongest is in the sections that deal with the enslaved bogle. the violence enacted on bogle and his fellow slaves is never shied away from - its visceral and raw - and the shift into the first person narration of his story really puts readers in the position of the character. without getting majorly spoilery, there is a scene in one of the later sections of the novel between eliza and henry, bogle’s son, that solidifies ‘the fraud’ as a solid contender for this year’s booker prize. smith so incisively confronts white people’s, specifically white allies’, inaction in the face of racism, a topic that’s still demands two centuries later. despite minor structuring issues - the constant shift between flash-forwards and flashbacks made it difficult to grasp what was happening at points - this is a solid book and i’d highly recommend it to established zadie fans and fans of historical fiction alike!

This is the second book I've read from Zadie Smith and it didn't disappoint. This is her first historical novel and she's done amazing. The writing is perfect and it kept my attention throughout.

I don't know why I haven't read more from Zadie, but I will now.

Zadie Smith thought she would not write a "historical novel" but apparently felt compelled to do so, she has written in a New Yorker article I have just read. I love the result: a thoroughly contemporary novel revolving around actual facts most of them forgotten, or that I did not know about. Brilliant protagonist (Eliza, Mrs Touchet) and a wonderful array of secondary characters. The storylines were gripping and what I generally don't like (moving from timelines to and fro) was handled in a compelling, not boring way - ie there was no mechanical to and fro but a variety of swings which kept my interest and illuminated the episodes retroactively and into the future.
Gender, class, race, family, identity, the creative mode, the media.... yes, it seems a bit too much to claim that all those topics are touched by The Fraud in a meaningful way, but they are!! thoroughly entertaining, intelligent writing. To think that the events depicted, the characters conjured have a real link to reality, actuality.... thoroughly recommended. Life and the past are far more complex that one usually thinks.

There is never any doubt of the literary power of Zadie Smith- over the last two decades she has written some of the most richly descriptive/plotted and thought provoking published novels. The Fraud is her first step into historical fiction and the minutiae of characterisation and plot that has been displayed in earlier novels is ever more evident in this epic story. First and foremost, readers will need to keep their wits about them as the shifts between time, stories and characters is in many ways intense. After about 200 pages, the flow and pitch of the narrative "clicked" and felt less disjointed.
The principle character is Eliza Touchet-in many ways a woman of 'not of her time' - an abolitionist, a challenger and questioner of the status quo and highly compassionate to the changing world and circumstances around her. The story could be considered in three parts; Eliza's life; the world of her cousin William Ainsworth and his family and his aspirations to be a successful novelist; and the Tichborne trial whereby Arthur Orton- the claimant - professed to be Roger Tichborne- rightful heir to a country estate. This became a notorious court case in victorian England and captured the imagination of the population. The key witness is Andrew Bogle who supported the claimant- he was the valet of Roger Tichborne's cousin. The question remains did the claimant dupe Bogle and his son who solidly believed in their statements as to his identity - having met Roger Tichborne in Australia . The life of Bogle is the most fascinating part of the novel- his journey from slavery to working within "society" is intriguing.
Eliza is an excellent protagonist - she holds the novel together and with her curiosity and desire to challenge and highlights false nature and hypocrisy within English society.
This is a novel that needs focus, time and perseverance highlighting a curious criminal case whilst highlighting a time of vast change across the world - bringing to further attention more of the cruelty and imbalance in societies that were controlled by the powerful and rich but also shining a light on the gradual positive changes to abolish salvery and breakdown some of the class rule in England.
Powerful, challenging and ultimately rewarding .

Zadie Smith's first historical novel, is based on a real event - the Tichborne trial, a controversial trial of the Victorian age. She takes the story of one woman, a housekeeper and threads real characters and events through the narrative. As with all Smith’s work, it is elegant and provocative and I applaud her for striking out in a different and difficult field.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC.

I was excited to read 'The Fraud', Zadie Smith's first historical novel. Set between the 1830s and the 1870s, the novel is centred around the famous Tichborne case involving a man claiming to be the missing heir to a baronetcy. We follow this case largely from the perspective of Eliza Touchet, the widowed housekeeper to her cousin of William Harrison Ainsworth, the prolific author of historical fiction. Eliza and Ainsworth's young second wife Sarah become intensely interested in the case for different reasons, and Eliza is particularly fascinated by the Tichborne claimant's supporter Andrew Bogle, a former slave whose testimony plays a pivotal role in the case.

This appears to be a very well-researched novel which introduced me to a fascinating case which captured the Victorian imagination. Although it is hard to believe that a case of contested identity would be possible in today's era of DNA testing, there are remarkable resonances with the modern day, particularly the claimant's supporters dogged belief in their cause in spite of the most compelling evidence; Zadie Smith particularly uses the character of Sarah to believe this. The novel's invites us to consider who the real 'fraud' is - various characters are identified as such at different points in the story.

The Victorian literary scene is also brought to life - I hadn't previously heard of Ainsworth but he rubbed shoulders with lots of familiar names such as Dickens and Thackeray who make frequent appearances in the novel. Eliza and Bogle's perspectives are both interesting, showing us the plights of a intelligent but unmarried woman and a man born into slavery in Jamaica respectively.

However, I didn't find this quite as engaging as I was hoping to. The structure feels quite disjointed - we move frequently between different decades and the reasons for this aren't always clearly signalled. There are a lot of characters, many of whom are referred to by two or three different names in the same scene, which makes it difficult to keep track of everyone. There is also a lot of dialogue in which speakers are not always attributed, and I felt like the novel assumed a lot of prior knowledge on the part of the reader. The novel becomes more compelling once we really get stuck into the trial around a third of the way through, and particularly once Bogle starts telling his story to Eliza, but even after this it didn't feel like there was a clear direction of travel.

There is still lots to admire in this novel, and those interested in the Victorian era will doubtless enjoy it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

This was an absolutely fantastic book that I devoured in a way I didn't expect to. Zadie Smith is a phenomenal writer and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I've read Zadie Smith books before and was excited to start this one. Its a historical novel and I really liked that she has tried something different here. It is unlike anything I have read before. The book I feel has 3 different parts to it. real life The Tichborne trial , Bogles story back in Jamaica and also via housekeeper Eliza Touchet and the comings and goings of her cousin and author William Ainsworth in their household.

The book is quite lengthy but with short chapters which I always feels make the book easier to read for some reason.

The only thing I would say at times I may have misinterpreted areas or not fully understood parts of the text as if I had missed something. It may be to do with the number of characters involved, some with same names or known as two or three different names. It was definitely a complex novel and even Charles Dickens is in the book!

A chance to read new novel by Zadie Smith? Count me in. However, the first few pages of The Fraud came as a bit of a culture shock. This is Smith’s first historical novel and as I should have expected from the expert at dialogue, the language reflects this. Perhaps that’s why it seems quite different to On Beauty or White Teeth. Smith is also master of storytelling, and soon envelopes us in this early Victorian literary world, with Dickens and Thackeray making an appearance. Through the story of Eliza Touchet’s life, she illuminates the concerns of the age, such as the abolition of slavery, and the infamous Tichborne trial. In the afterword, the reader learns that many of the characters in the novel are based on real people, about whom only snippets are known, but Smith expertly provides them with rich hinter stories in this novel, exploring race and slavery, and sexuality.

Underpinning everything is the notion of identity, authenticity and therefore the fraud of the title. Eliza is our companion through the book, and her life is formed by society’s expectations of her gender, as well as the fundamental difference that money made to the shape of their lives. Eliza is a thoughtful woman, intelligent and astute, but with a love and care for the people in her life.

I soon got the hang of the fact that many of the characters are referred to by more than one name (what is this? A Russian novel?), which is a clever way of suggesting that we all adopt different names and identities.

Like any good historical novel, I was left googling a host of different events and concepts, eager to learn more. Smith wears her research lightly; we aren’t subjected to lengthy and highly detailed paragraphs on incidental aspects of history. Instead, there is an economy, a careful chosen gem of information that illuminates the story.

Often funny and touching, I’d recommend this to fans of Zadie Smith and lovers of historical fiction.

This is the first historical fiction written by Zadie and my first read by the author, and I was really excited to read it because I had heard so many good things about her previous books. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy it. Nothing seemed to be connected. I felt I needed to keep notes on each chapter to remind me what was what. I did enjoy what was written, and it was written amazingly well. Maybe this is one I need to revisit on audiobook in the future.

This book is well written and ranges widely with a complex story.
I looked forward to picking it up again each time
Explores the issues and reality of colonialism, industrialisation and slavery with a beautiful humanity

It's always exciting to read a new Zadie Smith novel, and doubly intriguing that this is her first historical. Long-time fans may be delighted to find it is still set in the author's neighbourhood of Kensal Green, as so beautifully rendered in White Teeth and - my favourite of her books - NW. The subject matter and tone are quite different, as the main character is a widowed housekeeper in the 1870s, wise and wide-ranging in her interests and sensibilities but who is unable to be seen in all her strength in the patriarchal, snobbish world she moves in.

Named Mrs Touchet, in a witty double entendre that resonated for me every time it comes up, she is a brilliant set of eyes through which readers can follow the 'Tichborne Trial', a true contemporary case of fraud revolving around the truth or falsity of one man's claim on the Tichborne Estate, and to observe too the (male) literary scene she is on the fringe of. This mischief seen in this character's name (is she viscerally named 'Touch-it' or does she carry a far more ironic message of comeuppance, 'Touche!'?, is very much part of the often ironic optic of the novel. Cameos of Charles Dickens, for example, are very funny, and at times the novel feels delightfully like Zadie Smith having a conversation with her 19th century forefathers in the art of fiction.

But there is a serious examination of 19th Century power structures and prejudice in the novel, and by extension in society today. Zadie Smith's style is so clear and strong, the novel breathes in a perfectly current way, and while it might not offer the emotional depths of her more usual NW tribe, it offers so much other food for thought - and it is so clever and refreshing to probe this high Victorian world in this way, illuminating its cruelties and blindness but through wit, humour and the perspectives of characters who have historically been sidelined from the main narrative.

I couldn’t really get into this. This is Smith’s first historical book and it didn’t feel authentic. The characters were thinly drawn and unsympathetic.

I need start this review leaving clear that I am a big fan of Zadie smith since I read Grand union. When I had the chance to access this ARC thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK I did a happy dance. This book is very complex to read because for start it feels like you ending different books at the same time. The chapter structure is a bit confusing because they are very short and when you finish one chapter it drop you straight to a another storyline and is a bit hard to catch up with those drastic timeline changes. In the plot you follow the story of Eliza and her cousin William (who is a novelist) in Victorian times and the infamous trial but one thing that I loved about this book so the fact that yes it show you many topics and troubles of the Victorian times but it have some Wit and humor and that’s just priceless. We already know that zadie is a brillante author and she can Create complex female characters and can create real characters too. I loved the story of Andrew too, the book is a brilliant gem and I can’t wait to buy my own copy of this book. Thank you very much to NetGalley and penguin general Uk for the Access to this arc. The book is out the 7 of September of 2023 so preorder it if you got a chance. Reseña en español: Necesito comenzar esta reseña dejando claro que soy un gran admirador de Zadie Smith desde que leí Grand union. Cuando tuve la oportunidad de acceder a este ARC gracias a NetGalley y Penguin UK hice un baile feliz. Este libro es muy complejo de leer porque al principio se siente como si estuvieras leyendo diferentes libros al mismo tiempo. La estructura de los capítulos es un poco confusa porque son muy cortos y cuando terminas un capítulo te lleva directamente a otra historia y es un poco difícil ponerse al día con esos cambios drásticos en la línea de tiempo. En la trama, sigues la historia de Eliza y su primo William (que es novelista) en la época victoriana y el infame juicio, pero una cosa que me encantó de este libro es el hecho de que sí te muestra muchos temas y problemas de la época victoriana. pero tiene algo de ingenio y humor y eso no tiene precio. Ya sabemos que Zadie es una autora brillante y puede crear personajes femeninos complejos y también puede crear personajes reales. También me encantó la historia de Andrew, el libro es una joya y no puedo esperar para comprar mi propia copia de este libro. Muchas gracias a NetGalley y penguin general Uk por el acceso a este ARC.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have always thought Zadie Smith’s dialogue is unmatched but struggled with her style of narrative. After enjoying On Beauty I was excited to hear that she had written an historical fiction with a mystery element, two of my fave genres.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book, I was around 30 % in and still had no clue what was going on or who the characters were, let alone care about what happened to them.

It was such a struggle to make sense of the narrative that I would have found myself in a terrible mood and reading slump if I had continued any further. Really disappointing, and I’m sorry that I don’t seem to have the capacity to understand this book or say anything worth saying about it.

FROM THE COVER📖


Truth and fiction. Jamaica and Britain. Who deserves to tell their story? Zadie Smith returns with her first historical novel.

Kilburn, 1873. The 'Tichborne Trial' has captivated the widowed Scottish housekeeper Mrs Eliza Touchet and all of England. Readers are at odds over whether the defendant is who he claims to be - or an imposter.

Mrs Touchet is a woman of many interests: literature, justice, abolitionism, class, her novelist cousin and his wives, this life and the next. But she is also sceptical. She suspects England of being a land of façades, in which nothing is quite what it seems.

Andrew Bogle meanwhile finds himself the star witness, his future depending on telling the right story. Growing up enslaved on the Hope Plantation, Jamaica, he knows every lump of sugar comes at a human cost. That the rich deceive the poor. And that people are more easily manipulated than they realise.

Based on real historical events, The Fraud is a dazzling novel about how in a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, deciding what's true can prove a complicated task.


REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Zadie Smith. I have found all her books complex, interesting and at times challenging. I was really intrigued to see this book was a new genre, historical fiction, for the author. Whist this isn’t my first choice of genre as it was Smith novel I had to read it. Thank you for the ARC

First off I’ll say this wasn’t for me, not from any fault of the author it just wasn’t my genre and as such I found the plot slow and heavy going.

That being said I loved the writing style it was full of flair, complex sentences, beautiful imagery and detail. As usual with all of Smith’s work there was loads of sly digs about society hidden within the text delivered with whip smart wit. Mrs T as a character was enchanting and a lot of her inner monologue really set the book apart from the usual historical fiction, in fact it was her that kept me reading rather the actual plot which is based on real life events. The rest of the characters are in interesting bunch and also keep you reading as the novel processes. The chapters are typically only 2-3 pages. To some extent I am sure that this is a nod to the serialisation of novels that was common at the time, again hidden smarts and style from Smith. Be warned tho it is a fairly long book and can drag on. If you are fan is historical fiction this won’t be an issue but if not you may find it a bit too boring in places.

I adored the imagery of old London it is hard to imagine some of the places mentioned as merely farm land on the outskirts on the city when they are such central parts of the capital today. I found the mention of the all immigration to the capital was a great reminder of the rich culture Britain has and reminder without all these people whom were treated awful we wouldn’t have such things like Paddington Station this is a lesson that sadly still needs to taught today. Smith effortlessly winds this message home without shoving it down your throat.

She does this further with the themes addresses in the novel. She questions what really is privilege, she shows the subtle nuances within it expertly. She asks what is freedom, does it exists, how can it be achieved? The title make give this away but asks are we all indeed frauds?
The book leaves you with lots of questions to ponder that are ever increasing more relevant into todays London as this London of the past.

Whist I found this book not for me there were expects I loved and for that it’s a three stars. This book proves that Zadie Smith is one of the UK’s most talented writers deserving of all the prizes( can see this as a Booker nom next year)I can’t wait for the next book Zadie just not too far into history next time please.

Footnote this would make a great BBC drama

Three storylines spread out over 450plus pages and numerous chapters.
Strand one Eliza Touchet a Scottish widow and housekeeper to her cousin William Ainsworth.
Strand two The Tichborne trial - someone claims to be the thought to be dead Sir Roger Tichborne
strand three Andrew Bogle, who had worked as a servant for the Tichborne family.

The storylines didn’t connect sufficiently for me. The structure of short chapters was also problematic. After a two of three pages of the Tichborne trial, the next chapter could be a different timeline and and related to Eliza. I felt I was reading three different books at once.

I enjoyed the first few chapters of the book and had the feeling it was going to be a fantastic read but, probably because of the structure, I couldn’t settle into the book.

Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC

I finished this book a few weeks ago but have held off doing a review as I felt bad. It was fine. But that’s it I had wanted it to be so much better than that. I love historical novels but I just didn’t know what this ads to the genre. The slavery part feels flat, the part which could have been interesting were ok. I met real historical figures I didn’t know about but I didn’t love it. I so wanted to. It was ok.

I am very sorry to say that I'm glad that's over and done with.

I've not read any Zadie Smith since the outstandingly good White Teeth but The Fraud sounded so interesting on paper that I was extremely hopeful that it would be just as excellent. However what I ended up with was a confusing, mish mash of stories and timelines that made me long for the end.

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

We start with the story of William Harrison Ainsworth, a novelist and contemporary of Dickens and Thackeray. He was popular in his day but once Dickens arrived his popularity waned. We are also introduced to his cousin, Eliza, who is the main narrator of the book.

Eliza's story is intermingled with William's and that of his first and second wife.

Then we have another two strands - that of a celebrated case of the time - the Tichborne case where a claimant spends years trying to prove that he was the missing peer Sir Roger Tichborne believed lost at sea.

This is mingled with the story of his faithful servant, Bogle.

So we have two personal histories, a court case, another personal history and they are all mixed up with the major events of the age - Corn Law Repeal, Lancashire Mill workers strike, various Slave Trade Acts and The Great Exhibition to name but a few.

All in all this novel tried to pack in everything plus the kitchen sink. It jumped all over the place with plot and timeline. I found Bogles history interesting but you just started to get your teeth into a part and then found yourself in a different year with a different plot. I felt all at sea by the end.

Disappointing.