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The Fraud: A Novel

Name: The Fraud: A Novel
Price: 18.49 USD
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Rating: 3.7 (879 reviews)

3.7 of 5 Stars: British & Irish - The Fraud: A Novel

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Book Synopsis: The instant New York Times bestseller.

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.”

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Discover the captivating world of "The Fraud: A Novel" by acclaimed novelist Zadie Smith. Immerse yourself in this kaleidoscopic work of historical fiction that takes you back to Victorian England, where a legal trial divided the nation and challenged the concept of truth. Get ready to question who gets to tell their story and who gets to be believed.

Step into the intriguing life of Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a Scottish housekeeper and cousin by marriage to the once-famous novelist William Ainsworth. Follow her journey through literature, justice, abolitionism, and her observations on class and facades in a deceptive society. With a skeptical eye, she seeks the truth about her cousin's talent, Charles Dickens' character, and the true nature of England itself.

On the other side of the coin, meet Andrew Bogle, who grew up enslaved on a Jamaican plantation. He brings a unique perspective to the story, understanding the human cost behind every lump of sugar and the manipulation of the rich over the poor. As he becomes the star witness in a celebrated imposture case in London, he realizes that his future depends on telling the right story.

Dive into the enthralling "Tichborne Trial," where a lower-class butcher from Australia claims to be the rightful heir of a sizable estate and title. Feel the captivating anticipation and suspense as Mrs. Touchet and all of England ponder over the authenticity of Sir Roger Tichborne's claims. In a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, unraveling the truth becomes a challenging task for both Mrs. Touchet and Mr. Bogle.

Based on real historical events, "The Fraud" immerses you in a dazzling exploration of truth and fiction, the complexities of Jamaica and Britain, and the enigma of "other people." Prepare to be captivated by this thought-provoking novel that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Experience the mesmerizing world of "The Fraud: A Novel" for yourself!

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