The 1873 Tichborne Trial involved the case of a ‘lower-class’ Australian butcher claiming to be the lost heir to the wealthy Tichborne estate, Sir Robert Tichborne. It’s through this prism that Zadie Smith offers us a story of class, slavery, colonialism and the injustices perpetrated on the people of Jamaica by Britain’s aristocracy.

Told through flashbacks, current events and the trial itself, we view the trial through the eyes of Scottish Eliza Touchet, housekeeper to her famous writer cousin, William Ainsworth.

Andrew Bogle is a servant to the Tichborne family. He is the star witness at the trial. His future depends on what he says.

The question is, who is the fraud? Who is granted the privilege of being believed?

The Fraud is a skilfully researched, beguiling historical novel. It offers an array of colourful and complex characters, while taking us on a journey through England, Scotland and Jamaica, with masterful vivid imagery.

At nearly 500 pages I felt it could have been less wieldy in size, but the short chapters, interchanging time periods and storylines kept me invested. The writing is sublime. I laughed out loud and cried in equal measures.

Like any well-researched novel, I was prompted to do my own ‘google’ rabbit hole research – which I also found fascinating. If you love historical fiction, I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Linda Raiti

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zadie Smith was born in north-west London in 1975. She is the author of the novels White Teeth, The Autograph Man, On Beauty, NW and Swing Time, as well as The Embassy of Cambodia and the essay collection, Changing My Mind. She is also the editor of The Book of Other People, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has twice been listed as one of Granta’s 20 Best Young British Novelists.