Zadie Smith reads her story from the March 6, 2017, issue of the magazine. Smith is the author of five novels, including “White teeth,” "NW," and “Swingtime,” which was published last year.

Take back your mink, take back your pearls. But you don’t sing that song, it’s not in your key. Let some other girl sing it.The type who gets a smile from a cop even if she’s crossing Broadway in her oldest Terylene housedress. You don’t have that luxury.