The Fraud by Zadie Smith (Penguin General UK)

The Tichborne case controversy and the life of Victorian novelist William Harrison Ainsworth, well known for his work on Rookwood, are the subjects of Zadie Smith's debut historical fiction book. This is a story of identity and deception.

The Tichborne Trial was a famous court case that took place in England in the late 1800s. The trial was about a man named Arthur Orton who claimed to be Sir Roger Tichborne, a wealthy Englishman who had disappeared years earlier. However, many people believed that Orton was an imposter and not the real Sir Roger Tichborne. 

It was a trial that captivated the entire country, including Smith's main character, a widowed Scottish housekeeper and cousin-by-marriage to author William Harrison Ainsworth named Mrs. Eliza Touchet. 

Mrs. Touchet is a woman who has many interests. She loves literature, justice, abolitionism, class, and even believes in the afterlife. However, she is also very skeptical. She believes that England is a land of facades, where nothing is quite what it seemed. She is very interested in the Tichborne Trial because she wants to know the truth about whether Orton is really Sir Roger Tichborne or not.

Andrew Bogle is a witness in the trial, and his future depended on telling the right story. He grew up enslaved on the Hope Plantation in Jamaica, and he knows that every lump of sugar came at a human cost. He believes that the rich deceived the poor and that people are more easily manipulated than they realize. Bogle's testimony is crucial in the trial, and he has to make sure that he tells the truth. 

The trial is a reminder that the truth is not always easy to uncover and that people can be easily deceived.

'The Fraud' offers a lot of engaging material. Zadie Smith is a writer who consistently provokes thought. Her gift for developing characters shines through in this story, and her reminder that people who had been held as slaves were an integral part of nineteenth-century England is a crucial touch to the story.

This narrative also offers the opportunity to deeply examine a variety of serious subjects, including class, queerness, femininity, and as already said; slavery, and the inalienable right to freedom. 

This book is a true gem that will remain relevant for years to come. Its message is powerful and thought-provoking, beautifully written, with vivid descriptions and engaging characters that will draw you in from the very first page. 

One of the things that makes this book so special is the way it addresses significant, timeless issues and concepts. 

4/5