A review by galokarp
The Fraud: A Novel by Zadie Smith

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Zadie Smith's first take on historical fiction tries to do many things but is only successful in some. The novel reaches apex with its embedded narratives – mainly the Tichborne trial and the Bogles' journey accros the globe – but falls short of being as relevant when dealing with Ainsworth's bourgeois literary circles. In spite of navigating the implications of slavery for almost 500 pages, the character (including the narrators) often seem two-dimensional.