[Python] Can't get pybtex to parse BibTeX data

I've tried feeding pybtex as bland a BibTeX spec as I could come up with. I've tried putting it into a file and using parse_file(). I can't get pybtex to succeed at parsing anything. Here's a minimum [not] working example (not working in python 3.12.3 on Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTSF):

#!/usr/bin/python3

import pybtex.database

if __name__ == '__main__':
bib_as_string = """
\bib{Alpha}{article}{
author = {Smith, Adam},
title = {Wealth of Nations}
}
"""

bib_data = pybtex.database.parse_string(bib_as_string, 'bibtex')
print(f'pybtex read in {len(bib_data.entries)} items.')
print(f'\n{bib_data}')


and the output it generates

pybtex read in 0 items.

BibliographyData(
entries=OrderedCaseInsensitiveDict([]),

preamble=[])


What really obvious and simple thing am I missing?

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