Forged

A Novel

Danielle Teller

A thrilling and immersive tale of an impoverished woman turned con-artist by the critically acclaimed author of All the Ever Afters

In the Gilded Age, a time of abject poverty and obscene wealth, a desperate and ambitious young woman strikes out for a new life in the rising industrial cities of America. Naive Fanny is thrust into a Darwinian world where she is cast out and preyed upon, but she’s a survivor and quickly learns from her struggles. Thanks to her close observations of the mercenary actors around her, Fanny discovers the power of illusion and how it can overcome the immutability of social class and the ruthless rules of capitalism.

Shedding her past, Fanny embarks on a darkly thrilling transformation. She becomes Kitty Warren—a forger, con artist, and thief. Exploiting the greed and self-regard of the powerful, Kitty builds her own castle in the sky, yet she finds real pleasure and fulfilment elusive, and soon her foundations start to crumble.

With schemes more wicked than Jay Gatsby’s, yet with more humanity than Tom Ripley, Kitty Warren exposes the dark heart of the American dream, making Forged a gripping narrative and a parable for the ages.

Danielle Teller received her medical training at McGill University, Brown University, and Yale University. She has held faculty positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University. In 2013, Danielle pursued her childhood dream of being a writer. She is the author of the novel All the Ever Afters and of one book of nonfiction, Sacred Cows: The Truth About Divorce and Marriage. She lives with her husband, Astro Teller, and their four children in Palo Alto, California.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Forged follows the riveting journey of Fanny Bartlett, a woman who rises from the depths of poverty to the heights of Gilded Age society using only her wits, charm, and audacity. The author vividly captures the stark contrasts of the era—its opulent excess and harsh squalor—while plunging us headlong with Fanny into daring, brilliant schemes. With a twisting, clever plot and a remarkable cast of characters, Forged is a gripping tale of survival, reinvention, and the elusive nature of success." Liese O'Halloran Schwarz, author of What Could Be Saved

"A compelling examination of the pursuit of the American Dream, Forged is a fascinating tale set within the Gilded Age that feels particularly relevant today. The novel evokes the narrative complexity of Hernan Diaz's Trust, while illustrating the excesses of the age through Kitty Warren, who is in turns inspiring and shocking, both a damsel in distress and a cool and bold strategist—everything one would want in a protagonist. I adored this book." Kathy Wang, author of The Satisfaction Cafe

"In Forged, Danielle Teller spins a thrilling and immersive historical adventure—a tale of power, reinvention, and delectable Tom Ripley-esque villainy. She plunges the reader into a vividly rendered past rife with suspense and schemes; twists and turns. This is a timeless American story of wealth, power, and the quest to craft an identity." Sanjena Sathian, author of Goddess Complex

“Fast-paced, lush, and immersive, Forged is as full of twists and turns as the devious schemes of the brilliant but ruthless Fanny Bartlett, a.k.a. Kitty Warren. With an exacting eye for detail, Teller takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the fin de siècle, from the frigid Canadian wilderness to the booming steel towns of the American midwest to the glittering metropolises of New York and Paris. Despite her flaws, "Kitty" emerges as an endlessly captivating enigma, by turns vulnerable and calculating, driven as much by her love for another woman as by her desire to prove herself equal to - or better than - the mercenary men who dominate her world. You can't help but root for her, even at her worst, knowing all the while that sooner or later her past will catch up with her. In Kitty, FORGED sees the birth of an unforgettable new anti-heroine.” Hesse Phillips, author of Lightborne

"Forged brings to life the complexities and prejudices of Gilded Age America through the story of an ambitious female con artist. Kitty Warren, a.k.a. Fanny Bartlett, schemes her way into the High Society of diamonds, mansions, couture, and grand tours, only to discover the coldness and emptiness at its core. A skillfully crafted page-turner that is sharply relevant in today’s world of corruption and extreme wealth.” Gioia Diliberto, author of Coco at the Ritz and I am Madam X

Praise for All the Ever Afters

“As in the best literary inversions (e.g., Gregory Maguire’s Wicked), Teller demonstrates the flaws and fine points of characters on both sides.” The Washington Post

“Teller’s reimagined tale stands out among the best. Fairy-tale aficionados will adore Teller’s complex, touching retelling of this classic story of womanhood, perseverance, and familial love, in which she strikes an ideal balance between familiar and fresh. Booklist, starred review

“A fun, fantastical story with a strong heroine. . . Inspired me and reminded me that how we confront adversity reveals profound truths about who and what we are." FIrst for Women

“A charmed debut. Teller pulls off the spellbinding trick of turning an easy-to-hate character into a strong and conscientious female lead." Publishers Weekly

“A fascinating reimagining of the original tale.”

Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers