The Fraud
The Fraud by Zadie Smith, published by Penguin Books on June 5, 2024, is a historical fiction that delves into the complexities of identity and truth in 19th-century England. Set in 1873, the narrative follows Mrs. Eliza Touchet, the housekeeper and cousin of the declining novelist William Ainsworth, as she navigates her skepticism about the literary world and the societal facades surrounding her. The story intertwines her life with that of Andrew Bogle, a former enslaved person from Jamaica, who becomes embroiled in a notorious legal case that questions the authenticity of a man’s claim to nobility.
Readers will find a rich exploration of themes such as literature, justice, and class dynamics, as Mrs. Touchet grapples with her cousin’s perceived lack of talent and the moral complexities of figures like Charles Dickens. The backdrop of the Tichborne Trial serves as a catalyst for examining deception and the nature of reality, drawing in characters who are acutely aware of the societal structures that shape their lives. This edition spans 464 pages and is presented in English, offering a detailed narrative that reflects on the intricacies of human experience and societal expectations.
Official synopsis Publisher
It is 1873. Mrs. Eliza Touchet is the Scottish housekeeper–and cousin by marriage–of a once-famous novelist, now in decline, William Ainsworth, with whom she has lived for thirty years. Mrs. Touchet is a woman of many interests: literature, justice, abolitionism, class, her cousin, his wives, this life and the next. But she is also skeptical. She suspects her cousin of having no talent; his successful friend, Mr. Charles Dickens, of being a bully and a moralist; and England of being a land of facades, in which nothing is quite what it seems. Andrew Bogle, meanwhile, grew 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 realize. When Bogle finds himself in London, star witness in a celebrated case of imposture, he knows his future depends on telling the right story. The ‘Tichborne Trial’–wherein a lower-class butcher from Australia claimed he was in fact the rightful heir of a sizable estate and title–captivates Mrs. Touchet and all of England. Is Sir Roger Tichborne really who he says he is? Or is he a fraud? Mrs. Touchet is a woman of the world. Mr. Bogle is no fool. But in a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, deciding what is real proves a complicated task …
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Fraud” about?
Who is the author of “The Fraud”?
When was “The Fraud” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Fraud”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
