The Fraud: Exploring Truth and Fiction

The podcast episode discusses Zadie Smith's new historical novel, The Fraud. Set in the 19th century, the novel centers around the Titchborn trial, where a man claiming to be the heir to a wealthy English family emerges. Smith describes the novel as an exploration of the themes of truth and fiction, questioning who in the book is not a fraud and delving into the idea that everyone has a certain level of fraudulence. She also draws parallels between the Titchborn case, the O.J. Simpson trial, and the political rise of figures like Donald Trump, highlighting the captivating power of individuals who present themselves as something other than they truly are.