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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Colonial and plantation violence is discussed as historical background rather than depicted in graphic present-tense scenes
Language
Barely any
Minimal strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Not a significant element
Substance Use
Barely any
Not a significant element
Emotional Intensity
Some
Racism and the doubting of a Black witness's testimony because of his race are central themes, alongside questions of truth and authenticity in Victorian society
What this book is about
Housekeeper and secret novelist Eliza Touchet observes the sensational Tichborne Claimant trial, in which a man claiming to be a lost aristocrat is defended by a witness whose testimony is doubted largely because of his race and history as an enslaved man. Zadie Smith's historical novel interrogates truth, authenticity, and the wealth built on colonial violence and enslaved labor.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Colonial violence and slavery discussed as historical backdrop
Racial prejudice affecting a key witness's credibility
Reader Verification
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