The Fraud by Zadie Smith
Set in 1873, "The Fraud" follows Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a Scottish housekeeper and cousin by marriage to the declining novelist William Ainsworth. Living with him for thirty years, Mrs. Touchet is a woman of varied interests, including literature, justice, and class. She harbors doubts about her cousin's talent and questions the moral integrity of his friend, Charles Dickens. Meanwhile, Andrew Bogle, who grew up enslaved on a Jamaican plantation, becomes a key witness in the famous "Tichborne Trial" in London. As the trial unfolds, Mrs. Touchet and Bogle navigate a world filled with deception and facades, questioning the nature of truth and identity. The novel explores themes of authenticity, societal hypocrisy, and the complex interplay between truth and fiction.
The 8626th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2023
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 400-450
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.7)
- Alternate Titles
- - A Fraude
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 16th on The 100 Greatest Books of 2023 (The Greatest Books)
- 143rd on The Greatest Books of 2024 - Honorable Mention (The Greatest Books)