Zadie Smith

The Fraud: A Historical Novel by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith discusses her novel, The Fraud, which takes place in 19th century London and centers around a court case concerning a butcher who claims to be the missing heir to a vast estate. Smith explores themes of truth, delusion, and our complicity in lies. She also touches on her initial resistance to writing historical novels and her conflicted relationship with Charles Dickens. Through the character of Eliza Touche, Smith examines societal expectations of women in the 19th century. The novel also delves into the mutability of truth, with the narrative blending both real and fictional elements.

Reimagining History and Exploring the Tichborne Case

Zadie Smith draws inspiration from the Tichborne case, a 19th century court case in which a butcher claimed to be a missing heir. This obscure piece of history fascinated Smith, particularly the involvement of Jamaican ex-slave Andrew Bogle. Through fictional characters and real court testimony, Smith explores the absurdity of truth and manipulations of reality. She highlights the resilience and agency of working-class communities, who found common cause in the Tichborne case. The case also exposes the flaws of the legal system and how storytelling can shape public perception.

Balancing Absurdity and Meaning in Fiction

Zadie Smith discusses the interplay between absurdity and meaning in her work. While she avoids being a moralist, she acknowledges that morals are inherently involved in human interactions. Smith finds life to be both comic and tragic, and she believes that a sense of humor can be instrumental in fostering solidarity and inspiring political action. She also shares her preference for writing in the past tense, finding the present tense to be exhausting and often unnecessary. However, she recognizes exceptional writers like Hilary Mantel who masterfully use the present tense when it is demanded by the subject matter.

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Zadie Smith

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The Fraud: A Historical Novel by Zadie Smith

Reimagining History and Exploring the Tichborne Case

Balancing Absurdity and Meaning in Fiction

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