Zadie Smith, the acclaimed author known for her distinctive storytelling, discusses her latest work, The Fraud, in a recent NPR interview.
The novel delves into historical fiction, focusing on the real-life Victorian Era Tichborne trial and one of its witnesses, a formerly enslaved Jamaican man.
Smith’s motivation for this project stemmed from her own upbringing. Growing up in England, she realised the glaring omission in her education regarding the history of plantation slavery in Jamaica. This gap in knowledge fuelled her desire to explore her Jamaican heritage and delve into a human interest story rather than a solely personal one.
In her interview, Smith challenges the notion of linear progress in history and society. She suggests that liberation can bring about new challenges and complexities, rather than guaranteed happiness. She also weighs in on the debate over critical race theory in US schools, emphasising the importance of interrogating history collectively.
Smith’s insights extend beyond her literary work. She reflects on how her changing economic circumstances have influenced her perspective on identity and bias. She also discusses the emotional rollercoaster she experiences between writing projects, acknowledging the profound connection between her creative work and her emotional well-being.
In The Fraud, Zadie Smith invites readers to explore history, identity, and the complexities of progress through her unique narrative lens. Her candid reflections in the NPR interview provide a deeper understanding of her perspective and the themes she explores in her latest literary endeavor.
