Fraud (book)

Fraud is a novel by British author Zadie Smith, published in 2023. The novel interweaves two seemingly disparate storylines. The first centers on Eliza Touchet, a Scottish housekeeper and cousin to the prominent novelist William Ainsworth, living in Victorian London. Eliza observes the complexities and hypocrisies of her cousin's social circle, marked by literary fame and social maneuvering. The second strand focuses on the Tichborne Case, a notorious 19th-century legal battle involving a man claiming to be Sir Roger Tichborne, heir to a wealthy family who was presumed lost at sea. The claimant's authenticity is debated, exposing issues of class, identity, and belief.

The novel explores themes of authenticity, imposture, social class, truth versus fiction, and the construction of narratives. Smith uses both historical figures and fictional characters to examine the nature of fraud on multiple levels, from personal deception to broader societal illusions. The Tichborne Case serves as a central metaphor for the ambiguities of truth and the ways in which people can be manipulated or choose to believe in fabricated realities. The narrative also delves into the ethical responsibilities of writers and the power of stories to shape perceptions and understanding.