The Fraud Explained

The Fraud: A Novel
Author:Zadie Smith
Country:United Kingdom, United States
Subject:Fiction - Trials, litigation, William Harrison Ainsworth, Imposters, Housekeepers, London.
Genre:Novel, historical fiction
Set In:19th-century London
Publisher:Penguin
Published:September 2023
Media Type:Print, E-book, Audio
Isbn:9780525558965
Website:Official website

The Fraud is a historical novel based on the Tichborne case written by Zadie Smith and published by Penguin in 2023.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Synopsis

Mrs Touchet is the Scottish housekeeper and a cousin by marriage of William Harrison Ainsworth. In 1873 she has been living with him for thirty years in London, Brighton and Surrey. He used to be a famed novelist. In 1834 his gothic novel Rookwood was a popular serial. Later he got negative reviews, and he had a conflict with Charles Dickens and illustrator George Cruikshank.

All of England is captivated with a trial. Roger Tichborne, rightful heir to a baronetcy and a family fortune, was presumed to have died in a shipwreck in 1854, but now a man claims to be him. Andrew Bogle, who grew up as a slave on a Jamaican sugar plantation, is a star witness.

Reception

The Fraud received generally positive reviews. According to Book Marks, the book received "positive" reviews based on thirty-seven critic reviews with twenty being "rave" and six being "positive" and ten being "mixed" and one being "pan".[5] On Bookmarks November/December 2023 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (3.5 out of 5) based on critic reviews, with a critical summary saying: "For interested readers, it's a brilliant undertaking".[6] [7]

According to The New York Times, Smith's "new novel, The Fraud,' is based on a celebrated 19th-century criminal trial, but it keeps one eye focused clearly on today's political populism."[1] According to the Los Angeles Times, "Not only is [the novel] set in 19th century England with a sprawling cast of characters high and low, but Charles Dickens himself makes an appearance, charming everyone except those who envy his success. But there's more to this brilliant new entry in Smith's catalog than a simple literary romp."[4]

Accolades

The Fraud by Zadie Smith has garnered accolades. It was selected as a New York Times book of the year 2023, [8] a New Yorker magazine 2023 book of the year[9] and a Washington Post hardcover bestseller in December 2023.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Set in the 1830s and 1870s the novel follows Eliza Touchet, a cousin by marriage and former lover of William Harrison Ainsworth who becomes fascinated with Roger Tichborne and attends the trial of the claimant.

    News: Mahajan. Karan . Zadie Smith Makes 1860s London Feel Alive, and Recognizable. The New York Times. August 28, 2023. August 30, 2023.

  2. News: Chakraborty. Abhrajyoti . The Fraud by Zadie Smith review – a trial and no errors. The Guardian. August 27, 2023. August 30, 2023.
  3. News: Charles. Ron. Ron Charles (critic). In Zadie Smith's 'The Fraud,' truth is an illusion. The Washington Post. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023.
  4. News: Kellog . Carolyn. What Zadie Smith's new Dickensian delight tells us about the Trump base. Los Angeles Times. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023.
  5. Web site: The Fraud . 11 July 2024 . Book Marks.
  6. Web site: The Fraud. 14 January 2023 . Bookmarks.
  7. Web site: 2023-10-04 . The Fraud. 2023-10-04 . Bibliosurf . fr.
  8. News: The 10 Best Books of 2023 . The New York Times . 28 November 2023 .
  9. The Best Books of 2023 . The New Yorker . 25 January 2023 .
  10. https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/12/06/washington-post-hardcover-bestsellers/ Washington Post