The Fraud: A Novel

Written by Zadie Smith

Narrated by Zadie Smith

The New York Times bestseller • One of the New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year • One of NPR's Best Books of the Year • Named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly

“[A] brilliant new entry in Smith’s catalog . . . The Fraud is not a change for Smith, but a demonstration of how expansive her talents are.” —Los Angeles Times

From acclaimed and bestselling novelist Zadie Smith, a kaleidoscopic work of historical fiction set against the legal trial that divided Victorian England, about who gets to tell their story—and who gets to be believed

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 sceptical. 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. . . .

Based on real historical events, The Fraud is a dazzling novel about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, fraudulence and authenticity and the mystery of “other people.”

PRAISE FOR THE AUDIOBOOK

“With the virtuosic agility of an actor in a one-woman play, Smith as narrator so fully embodies each of her many distinct characters that she exposes, sometimes without their even knowing, the ways in which every one of us misrepresents ourselves in one way or another. This is a 19th-century novel of manners in which various people have very bad ones, and the result, thanks to the author’s perfect ear for comic timing, is vigorously, insistently funny…Smith bounces nimbly across the vernacular empire while leaving no mistake about her ubiquitous irony, her vocal side eye.” — Lauren Christensen, The New York Times Book Review

“Smith expertly performs her historical novel inspired by true events…Smith’s performance possesses considerable emotional depth, and she delivers lines with her characteristic searing wit. Smith’s ear for accents turns into perfectly performed dialogue for characters from every corner of London.” — The Millions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Sep 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9780593788776

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith (Londres, 1975) estudió Filología Inglesa en la Universidad de Cambridge. Miembro de la Royal Society of Literature y la American Academy of Arts and Letters, es profesora de narrativa en la Universidad de Nueva York y colabora habitualmente en The New Yorker y en The New York Reviewof Books. En Salamandra ha publicado las novelas Dientes blancos, El cazador de autógrafos, Sobre la belleza, NW London y Tiempos de swing, los ensayos Cambiar de idea, Contemplaciones y Con total libertad, y las recopilaciones de relatos El libro de los otros y Grand Union.

Reviews for The Fraud

[bonnie_bailey-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Miserable muddle.

[jwhenderson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book, which is set in the politically oppressive 1960s Haiti, portrays the terror and corruption that were hallmarks of Duvalier's rule in striking detail. The real-life historical context provides a chilling backdrop, enhancing the sense of decay and moral ambiguity. The setting is described as both "a very real setting, time and situation" and a "shabby land of terror" where the narrative unfolds. Collectively referred to as "the comedians," the characters embody a microcosm of humanity navigating the absurdities of everyday life. Brown, potentially a reflection of Greene himself, is characterized by his rootless and non-committal approach to life, particularly in love. Jones, with his deceptive charm, and Smith, with his naivety and good intentions, add layers to the narrative, showcasing different facets of human folly and resilience.

Greene portrays life as a stage on which everyone performs their part, some more skillfully than others, by using dark humor and a morally somber tone. Along with examining issues of identity, purpose, and the human condition, the book offers a critical analysis of the political system, with a focus on American foreign policy. Greene's writing is often praised for its slick, engaging prose, though the narrative can feel a bit sloppy towards the end.

I found in "The Comedians" a layered narrative that combined Greene's signature dark humor with a sharp critique of political oppression and human nature, set in one of the most turbulent periods of Haitian history. While it might not be considered among Greene's greatest works, it remains a thought-provoking and engaging novel for its vivid portrayal of characters and setting.

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent novel (mostly) from the perspective of a cousin of the author William Harrison Ainsworth, but with a lot of narrative tentacles to be enjoyed. Delightful and intricate. 

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have a limited quota for the lives of the middle class of the 19th century, and this exceeded what I consider reasonable limits. The humor was very abstract, and none of the characters, based on real individuals, was particularly interesting. Dickens, the man and his works, are not subjects of admiration, but he is described as a great, if sometimes disconcerting, observer.

[donnamariemerritt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction primarily set in England in the 1800s, this book is easy to read and easy to like. Mrs. Touchet is honest and funny (without meaning to be) and human (to be admired and faulted in equal parts) and someone I'd want as a friend. But it was confusing and I still don't understand everything that happened or why it was listed as one of NYT's 10 best books of 2023.

[smits_52 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I did not get this novel at all. I found it rambling, unconnected and boring. I finished it but I don’t know why I did.

[johnavery-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A strange book. I found it difficult to get into. The author writes some very short “chapters” and often jumps between time periods for no obvious reason. It gave me the impression that she had dropped the manuscript and some chapters had ended up out of order. Also, the author has a habit of leaving things unclear. For instance, who a pronoun refers to is sometimes ambiguous and that obscures the meaning. Thirdly, some characters have more than one name and it is hard to follow the changes and why those changes are made. Mrs Touchet is also Eliza, and the Targe, and perhaps has other names. Perhaps the first half of the book is difficult.

When the author tells the story of Bogle, the book becomes more interesting and easier to follow. This section (and it does stay together as a coherent part of the book) is probably the best. Some of the later chapters about the trial of the claimant are cleverly written and make for quality literature. Sadly, the final chapters slip back into the earlier lack of clarity. The chapter in which Bogle and Mrs Touchet debate the concept of freedom is particularly strange; it seems to lack context within the rest of the book. Rather than ending, the book fizzles out.

[josephking6602 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Great writing…lacking a story line, i couldn’t tell what was going on or who was who; i didn’t get it

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've hesitated in writing this review for too long so I'd better get something down. There's a certian type of literature that I can't seem to grasp what all the glowing reviews have seen and this is one of those books. Maybe it's because I'm a self-taught reader; I've never been inside a college or university literature classroom. Maybe I'm just too superficial to explore the deeper meanings. However, I see that I'm not alone because a number of the reviews on LT express the same views.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author. Usually I enjoy books that are read by their author but Zadie Smith just doesn't have the training to convincingly carry off all the different accents in this book.

Much of the plot deals with the Tichborne case of the 19th century. The Tichborne heir, Roger, presumably died while sailing to Brazil but a man from Australia has now come forward claiming to be him. His case is bolstered by Mathew Bogle, a former slave from Jamaica, who worked for the Tichbornes. He asserts that the claimant is in fact Sir Roger Tichborne and he seems to be a completely honest person. At least, that's what Eliza Touchet who has been attending the trial feels. However, Eliza also feels that the claimant is a fraud. Eliza has known a great many famous men including Charles Dickens and Thackeray. She met them while keeping house for her cousin William Ainsworth who, for a while, was a writer on par with Dickens. But Eliza knows that William is not a very good writer although she manages to hide her opinions from him. We learn a lot about Eliza and William although the timeline jumps around considerably. We also learn quite a bit about Mathew Bogle from his time as a young slave until he turns up vouching for Sir Roger. Again, the timeline jumps around and is very hard to follow. And, eventually, we learn what happens in the civil and the later criminal trial but there could be a lot fewer words to tie this up, in my opinion.

This is Smith's first foray into historical fiction but, in my opinion, not a very successful one.

[maryreinert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction just how I like it - based on real happenings this story is set in a time when Charles Dickens was writing, slavery was officially abolished yet racial prejudice was rampant, and a trial was holding everyone's attention. Eliza Touchet was the Scottish housekeeper (and more) of her cousin a once-famous author. Eliza was very close to his first wife before she died; the second wife once being a servant in the house and the total opposite of the first and Eliza. Eliza can never quite find her place in society being a single woman.

The Tichborne Trial involved a man who claimed to be the heir of a wealthy and important family in England whose son had supposedly disappeared when a ship drowned off the coast of South America. This man had none of the refinements of a gentleman and is believed to be a butcher from Australia.

The book is about half of Eliza's life and the other half interspersed is the story of the trial. Both are interesting. Good writing; good story.

[mojomomma_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Told in the voice of Eliza Touchet, who in the audiobook is portrayed with a Scottish accent, is the cousin, housekeeper, and sometimes lover of her cousin William Ainsworth. Ainsworth writes and rubs elbows with the likes of Dickens. Ainsworth writes floridly and does not earn enough to support his lifestyle, so throughout the book the household's finances are slowly decreased. Eliza is interested in the abolitionist movement and the rights of women. Other than that, I listened to the book because of Smith's lovely accent more than anything. I probably wouldn't have finished it had I been reading it, but it was fun to listen to.

[technodiabla · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I listed to the audiobook version.

The Fraud is about.....well that's the problem. Despite one great character and an interesting setting it didn't seem to be about much of anything. I knew this book had mediocre reviews but the premise sounded so good. I made it about 1/3 way through it and finally gave up. Eliza was fascinating and well drawn. Everyone else just kind of blended together and the story did'nt seem to have a strong plot thread to keep me interested. And reading of the cockney accents grated on my nerves so much. Ugh.

[banjo123 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this historical novel, which was narrated by the author. It's based on real historical characters. William Harrison was a second rate author, contemporary to Dicken's. The story is mostly narrated by Eliza Touchee, who is his cousin, his housekeeper, plus more. Eliza had been involved in the abolition movement, and the story also involves the slave trade in Jamaica. The book is told in short chapters, perfect for an audio book. Lots of moral issues are raised, and none of the characters behaves admirably.

[nivramkoorb · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have read most of Zadie Smith's fiction and it seems that the quality of her works and their appeal to me seem to wane with each work. The Fraud continues the downward trend. Although the writing is excellent and there is creativity in the construction, in the end it doesn't come together to make this into an interesting story that held my interest. The basic story takes place in 19th century England and is based on historical facts with Smith creating a fictionalized story surrounding them. There was a trail in England in the 1860's concerning a missing nobleman who resurfaces claiming to be the nobleman but the identity is in question. From this base story Smith introduces many characters and sub plots to the point where it is very difficult to follow and maintain a good flow. For those who have never read Smith, I strongly recommend her first and best novel "White Teeth". Stick with her earlier works and you will be rewarded. Her last couple not so much.

[stevesmits · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This well-constructed, imaginative book has multiple themes: truth v fraud, the literary world in 19th century particulary its pretentious literary scene, class struggle in England, slavery and abolition, and the nascent feminism in mid and late 19th century England. Like good historical novels, to me anyway, it gives a foretaste of matters that evolved to our own time.

Eliza Touchet (pronounced as in French) is a widow and cousin by marriage to William Ainsworth and his wife Francis. Having little money left from her wayward late husband, she becomes housekeeper and confidant to the Ainsworth family. Ainsworth is an author who churns out dozens of novels, most of them, in Eliza's opinion, awful. He shamelessly steals ideas from other creators, resulting in recriminations that he mostly blows off. He has authored one, however, that outsold "Oliver Twist". Ainsworth is flighty, often absent abroad to collect characters and ideas for his novels. Eliza is intelligent and liberated in the sub rosa way for the era. She has great affection for Frances, even engaging sexually with her while Ainsworth is absent. In their younger years, she also had episodic sexual liaisons with Ainsworth. Frances dies, and, much later, Ainsworth marries Sarah, the household maid, a woman of much lower class, whom he impregnated. Ainsworth has frequent literary soirees with notable writers such as Dickens and Thackery. Eliza organizes these events and participates, seemingly valued for her cleverness and wit. Eliza knows that Dicken's literary prowess far out shines Ainsworth's, but she disdains him, feeling that he is "vampiric" in his absorption of the characteristic's of people observes as grist for his literary mill.

Eliza yearns independence, but when she comes into additional inheritance, she declines to access it, and later gives it over to young girls said to be the grandchildren on her husband's side.

Eliza is following, along with thousands of Britons, the trial of a man who claims to be the long-lost heir to a sizable fortune. Sir Roger Tichbourne was lost at sea, but a butcher from Australia claims to be Sir Roger, having been rescued and deposited in New South Wales. The claimant has not the slightest resembalance to the lost heir -- no physical similarity, lacking the French of Tichbourne's first language, missing a tatoo that all recall, and in his language and deportment clearly of the working class. He is, in fact, Arthur Orton, an obsese uneducated butcher. His case has galvanized the English working class who, despire all the contrary evidence, are fervantly supporting Orton's claim, even contributing significantly financially. It seems obvious that Orton represents the oppressed working class who are angry about the elitism of the aristocracy. There are many references in the novel to class discord going back decades. His claims, even though outrageous, are the occasion to poke the upper classes in the eye. After two trials, said to be the longest in British history, Orton is convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison.

Eliza and Sarah follow the trial closely; Sarah a strong believer, Eliza not at all. She is, however, fascinated by Andrew Bogle, a black man who accompanied Orton from Australia, and who asserts that he is indeed Tichbourne. Eliza introduces herself to Bogle and persuades him to tell her his life story. Bogle was an enslaved man who descends from a noble line in Africa. He has lived in Jamaica on a sugar plantation of the type whose cruelty stimulated the abolition movement in England. Because of his intelligence, Bogle is assigned administrative duties and travels with the overseers abroad. It is never quite clear why Bogle so supports Orton's claim. In Eliza's view, Bogle is an honest man without schemes. Eliza has the notion that she can base Bogle's life on her own literary work.

The Ainsworth household continues to decline as his works lose any interest in the publishing world. They are forced to repeatedly move to lessor residences, ultimately ending up in dowdy digs in Brighton.

The characters in this novel are based on real persons. Ainsworth is forgotten today, but was recognized in his time, if not highly regarded. Eliza and the issues that surround her, embody major currents in her time: class conflict, abolition, the vigorous literary world, and the dawn of lessening of the partriarchy and chauvinism of the era.

[littlel-2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Too long, even though it is beautifully written. DNF.

[lauralkeet · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

William Harrison Ainsworth was a Victorian author, part of a literary circle which also included Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, and others. Ainsworth didn’t fare as well over the long term; none of his work is in print today. His housekeeper, Eliza Touchet, was married to William’s cousin but came to live with William and his family after becoming a widow at a relatively young age. Eliza is smart and well-read, and becomes somewhat of a trusted advisor to William. And so we have the story of William’s career, his insecurities, and Eliza’s ongoing efforts to buck him up.

At the same time, a legal case grips the nation. Roger Tichborne was believed to have died at sea, en route to Australia, when suddenly a man turns up claiming to be Tichborne and seeking the family wealth he is entitled to. While there is plenty of evidence that this “Roger” is a fraud, a black man named Andrew Bogle staunchly backs him up and claims to know the man from his days managing a Jamaican sugar plantation. Eliza and William’s wife Sarah become obsessed with the case, attending the trial several days per week.

At this point the narrative begins to spiral. The chapters are quite short, sometimes around five pages but sometimes less than one page. There are frequent shifts between time periods, but this is not always made explicit and can be confusing. While the people and events are real, it’s not clear whether these two storylines actually intersected, or if this was a literary device to join independent plots. I think I would have preferred more focus on one or the other, since bringing them together didn’t quite work.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Fraud is the story of William Harrison Ainsworth, an author and contemporary of Charles Dickens. William, once prolific, is not producing quality work. He is challenged by another author/illustrator, saying that his work is not his own, and William wonders if he is a fraud.
Eliza Touchet, his cousin by marriage, she comes to the Ainsworth house at the request of his wife, Anne Frances, when William is away. Eliza becomes the housekeeper. Eliza is interested in slavery, abolition, and justice, which shapes her life. Eliza becomes suspicious of William's talent.
In 1873, William has a new wife, Sarah, and a daughter, Clara. Eliza, along with Sarah, follow a trial of a man who claims to be Sir Roger Tichborne, and Eliza becomes friends with a witness, Andrew Bogle, a black man, and his son, Henry. Eliza is exposed to Andrew's story of his family and his loyalty to the Tichbornes.
Very well written and informative.

[cariola_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I finished The Fraud by Zadie Smith last night. It is based on a true legal case that caught the public imagination in Victorian England. Roger Tichborne, supposedly lost in a shipwreck, suddenly turns up to claim his aristocratic inheritance . . . but is he who he says he is, or is he Arthur Orton, a butcher from Australia? The trial to determine if he is the heir or an impostor excited the public and divided people into factions.

The novel is told mainly from the point of view of Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a childless widow now employed as a housekeeper by her cousin, William Ainsworth, a novelist whose star is fading as fast as that of his friend, Charles Dickens, is rising. Mrs. Touchet has been rather in love with William, and more decidedly in love with his wife. But after the couple’s estrangement and Frances’s death, William has taken a new wife, his former cook. Although Mrs. Touchet dislikes Sarah and finds her common, the two of them share an interest in the Tichborne case and bond by attending the courtroom hearings together.

What fascinates Mrs. Touchet more than the claimant is his primary witness, Andrew Bogle, who served Sir Roger’s late uncle as a slave on his Jamaican sugar plantation. She finds him dignified and intelligent, and her conversations with him spark her interest in abolition and cause her to reevaluate her beliefs about race, class, history, social norms, and English exceptionalism. In short, she begins to see the many forms of hypocrisy that surround her.

I took my time reading this one, and after I finished it, I read many reviews on Amazon that recommended that this is the way to go. It’s the kind of book that has you backtracking and, at the end, wanting to read it again to catch what you may have missed. I’ve been a Zadie Smith fan ever since White Teeth. She is always true to her Willesden roots but has been increasingly daring in writing about the neighborhood in which she grew up in imaginative frameworks. The Fraud won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed it immensely.

[novelcommentary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Zadie Smith is a talented author. Her novel White Teeth is one of the better novels I've ever read, and I've enjoyed On Beauty and Swingtime as well. This is her foray into historical fiction centering the story around a middling author, one William Harrison Ainsworth, and his cousin, Eliza Touchet. It is Eliza's story we tend hear about, her short marriage, her romantic notions, and her political concerns. Also central to the novel is the longest trial in British history dealing with the trial of a man claiming to be the real Sir Roger Charles Doughty Tichborne, known mostly as the Claimant. The case captivated Victorian England and the characters of the novel. As Eliza gets wrapped up in the case she becomes fascinated by a black witness named Bogle. The middle section of the novel is spent recounting Bogle's history in Jamaica.
Though at times the narrative shifts from the 1830's through the 1870's can be confusing, the story gives a good sense of England, its literary scene, and its complicated relationship with slavery. It also nice to learn about various historical events of the time, including the plantation industry in Jamaica, the Tichborne Trial, the Corn Laws, the Crawl, etc.
Though I may have liked a few of her other books more, we should always be grateful for anything this gifted writer publishes. I would also recommend reading the NYT review comparing the narrative to modern day America: "The echoes of mindless Trumpism are clear".

The Fraud
Lines:
She thought of happier days in grand old Kensal Rise. Then of smaller, charming Brighton. Then of this present situation in which no window quite fit its frame. She thought of decline and the fact that she was tied to it. She stopped smiling.

As a young widow, with little family of her own, she was by now practised at securing invitations to join other people’s bustling households, especially at those moments of the year that seem invented to torment the lonely.

It was said he resembled William, but now that she saw them together it was clear the resemblance was manufactured and aspirational on William’s part.

She kept a person usefully tethered to the present, like the stays on a hot air balloon.

In the misery of aristocrats she found proof of the ancient wisdom regarding camels, rich men and the eyes of needles.

Just before she collapsed and died, she declared that if the grain thus enclosed were not doled out annually, as promised, then a curse would fall upon the Tichbornes. Seven sons would be followed by seven daughters, and the line of Tichborne would end. Ruin would befall them.

A person is a bottomless thing!

Theirs was a fellowship in time, and this, in the view of Mrs Touchet, was among the closest relations possible in this fallen world.

Even the girls themselves seemed only too aware of the conditional basis of their appearance at table, as if they had always known they owed men their beauty and now the time had come to pay that debt in full.

A tragicomedy of obscene length, the whole trial had lasted almost a year, longer than any in the history of British law.

[c.archer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 rating. I enjoyed the prose as always with Ms. Smith, but found the plot a bit tiresome. I appreciate that she was working from a real historic incident and there was little to expand upon. Loving Dickens's stories, I did enjoy the language and era.

[deborahk_44 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

not my favorite Zadie Smith novel but still good. I found it disjointed in the beginning and had a hard time following the action. Later I thought of going back and rereading from the beginning but wanted to get through it and I'm glad I did.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This had a strong Dickensian vibe to it (and not just because he was a character), and that made it very hard for me personally to follow.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Based on historical events, this novel tells the tale of a woman in Victorian England. The Fraud in the title is a man who claims to be the missing heir to a large fortune. He looks nothing like the man and has none of the knowledge the man would have but the common people support him wholeheartedly. No matter how many times he is proven to be a liar, they believe in him and loudly proclaim his right to the estate. It reminded me of recent political events n this country.

[lostinalibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Fraud by Zadie Smith is her first historical fiction novel and I will admit this may be the hardest book I have tried to review all year. Don’t get me wrong. Like all her books, it is beautifully written but it is also very complex. The story and the title are based on a true fraud casethe Ticheborne trial but, in truth, fraud could describe pretty much every character here, some of which are also based on real people including Charles Dickens and William Harrison Ainsworth, a well-known author and rival of Dickens at the time but who has since been mostly forgotten or, to be fair, unknown to me. The story is told in the third person by Eliza Touchet, Ainsworth’s cousin, housekeeper, and lover. She develops an interest in the Ticheborne trial which concerns a nobleman, once thought dead but now supposedly returned from Australia.

As I said I wrestled with trying to understand and follow the action in this book. It often leaps around in time and there are a lot of characters and events referenced. I found myself flipping back through the pages, wondering where I lost track. Had it been a lesser writer, I suspect I would have given up but the prose, the character of Eliza, and the references to the history both of the trial and, even more, of attitudes towards slavery and the abolitionist movement kept me going and, despite my confusion, I am glad I did. However, I will definitely read it again to try to better follow and capture what I missed this first time.

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review

[elkiedee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is Zadie Smith's first historical novel, set in 19th century England (mainly London and Sussex. She has taken a number of real people and historical events, but has taken some liberties to construct her story. In particular, the story is mainly told in the third person from the viewpoint of Mrs Eliza Touchet. The historical figure died in 1869, a few years before the Tichborne trial which she follows attentively in the novel.

Other real people include William Harrison Ainsworth, in his day the author of 41 novels, some very successful - one, Jock Sheppard, outsold Oliver Twist but Ainsworth and his work have been forgotten. Ainsworth and Charles Dickens move in the same social circles and are serious rivals. Eliza Touchet is Ainsworth's cousin and his housekeeper, and secretly his lover - but not a great fan of his work. She occupies a difficult social position, living as a servant but wanting more than that, and when a man goes on trial for allegedly pretending to be a long lost heir returned from Australia (the real life Tichborne case of 1873) she reads all about it and watches the trial.

This is a complicated and intriguing novel, written in very short chapters which jump around in time. I was trying to read it perhaps too quickly though, and am a little bit disappointed that I'm not sure I followed or understood everything very well. So at the moment it's not my favourite Zadie Smith novel, but it is one I think I would like to reread at another time.

[alexrichman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very entertaining in parts and draws you in after a slow start, but the constant flashing backwards and forwards is especially disorienting given the extremely short chapters. Disappointing, really.

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

[1.5] A work of fiction must “hook“ me within the first 75 pages or so (a “slow-burn” for me is when that hook remains undetected beyond 50 pages). Zadie Smith’s eagerly anticipated book failed spectacularly in this arena. Its nonlinear narrative contributed to my disinterest, leaving me feeling both unfulfilled and mildly confused. There’s no disputing that Smith is a cunning wordsmith, and the thumbnail description of her latest work sounded intriguing. But the meandering story and generally tedious characters spurred me to give up and move on to the next prospect on my impossibly long reading wish list. I’m sure I am not alone among bookworms; I feel guilty giving up on a book that I’ve devoted even a small amount of time to reading. But I’m prodding myself to cut my literary losses more often in hopes of discovering that next five-star read.

[kayanelson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ugh. This book ruined my reading enjoyment. It too, me a few weeks to read which hardly happens. I just didn’t care about any of the characters or the plot. I heard Zadie Smith speak about this book. She’s using an actual historical event and didn’t change any facts. According to her, the plot for this book was therefore easy. So that leaves character development and highlighting the social issue of equality between the sexes and the races. I did it care for the presentation or the verbose writing,
I have read one of Zadie Smith’s past books, On Beauty, and liked it. But I will not be reading more of her books.

[maret5g · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story is about Eliza Touchet, cousin of a novelist, William Ainsworth, with whom she spent her childhood with and after she lost her family, she moved to his residency as a housekeeper. This book of 454 pages had three storylines with many characters that intervene between stories and timelines.

The Anisworth's family socialized with authors like Charles Dickens, publishers, and other famous people who gathered to talk politics and business. One of the storylines and house discussions, was a Tichborne Trial. Roger Tichborne, who presumably died in a shipwreck, returned to England but it's unknown if he's a real Roger, the baronet, or an imposter. This trial event was hugely attended by people and by Eliza and Sarah, the second wife of William Ainsworth. One of the witnesses was Andrew Bogle, a Jamaican's slave who knew Roger when he was a young boy.

I was very excited to read this book. A big applaud goes to the author for great research and detailed presentation of Victorian England and slavery in Jamaica. That was the main reason I reached for this book. But the plot was lost for me for most than half of the book. Short chapters jumped from one storyline to another. That made my reading confusing until I could put the plot together. On the positive side, I'm glad I've read this book. Besides exploring Victorian era and learning more about slavery, I was captivated by an interesting fact about Charles Dickens and William Ainsworth, an English historical novelist.