The Rest Is History 400. Victorian Britain's Maddest Mystery
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Dec 18, 2023 
In this riveting discussion, best-selling author Zadie Smith dives into the infamous Tichborne Case, a Victorian spectacle of mistaken identity and societal intrigue. With her novel, The Fraud, as a backdrop, she unpacks the complex legal battle involving a butcher claiming to be the lost heir, Roger Tichborne. The conversation explores themes of race, class, and identity, shedding light on how this scandal captivated the public and influenced modern storytelling. Smith's insights blend humor and gravitas, making Victorian drama feel strikingly relevant today.
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The Tichborne Disappearance
- Roger Tichborne, a young aristocrat, was presumed dead after a shipwreck.
- His mother, however, refused to believe it and offered a reward for his return.
The Claimant Appears
- Twenty years later, Arthur Orton, an Australian butcher, claimed to be Roger.
- Despite significant differences in appearance and background, Roger's mother accepted him.
Social Anxieties Dramatized
- Zadie Smith highlights the trial's focus on a Jamaican, an Irish lawyer, and a working-class Englishman.
- She notes this dramatized key social anxieties of 19th-century Britain.
