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

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