Gilded Mountain: A Novel

Written by Kate Manning

Narrated by Dawn Harvey

“Immersive…awe-inspiring.” —The New York Times “An epic story of love, hope, and perseverance.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline

This “stellar read” (Los Angeles Times) is an exhilarating tale of an unforgettable young woman who bravely exposes the corruption that enriched her father’s employers in early 1900s Colorado.

In a voice infused with sly humor, Sylvie Pelletier recounts leaving her family’s snowbound mountain cabin to work in a manor house for the Padgetts, owners of the marble-mining company that employs her father and dominates the town. Sharp-eyed Sylvie is awed by the luxury around her; fascinated by her employer, the charming “Countess” Inge, and confused by the erratic affections of Jasper, the bookish heir to the family fortune. Her fairy-tale ideas take a dark turn when she realizes the Padgetts’ lofty philosophical talk is at odds with the unfair labor practices that have enriched them. Their servants, the Gradys, formerly enslaved people, have long known this to be true and are making plans to form a utopian community on the Colorado prairie.

Outside the manor walls, the town of Moonstone is roiling with discontent. A handsome union organizer, along with labor leader Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, is stirring up the quarry workers. The editor of the local newspaper—a bold woman who takes Sylvie on as an apprentice—is publishing unflattering accounts of the Padgett Company. Sylvie navigates vastly different worlds and struggles to find her way amid conflicting loyalties. When the harsh winter brings tragedy, Sylvie decides to act.

Drawn from true stories of Colorado history, Gilded Mountain is a tale of a bygone American West seized by robber barons and settled by immigrants, and is a story imbued with longing—for self-expression and equality, freedom and adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Nov 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797140124

Kate Manning

Kate Manning is the author of the critically acclaimed novels My Notorious Life, Whitegirl, and Gilded Mountain. A former documentary television producer and winner of two Emmy Awards, she has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Time, Glamour, and The Guardian, among other publications. She has taught creative writing at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan, and lives with her family in New York City.

Reviews for Gilded Mountain

[Denise Bond · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This sad tale caused me to see poverty and disenfranchisement through different lenses. Made me cry and made me laugh a couple times. Sometimes the French accent could droll on but not so bad most of the book.

[Becki Basley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An interesting book on woman who saw first hand the obnoxious wealth of coal mining owners and lived the poverty of a coal mining family. Becoming deeply rooted in the struggle of bring unions into the coal mines to get better conditions for the coalminers, she tells the story of the injustice and conditions of striking miners. This book also included mother marry Harris jones My personal heroine.

[Tammi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book for lovers of period fiction based off of real events. Highly recommend. One of the top 5 books I’ve listened to in the past year. Happy listening/reading!

[Genevieve Methot · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think the book would have been better if it wasn’t for the narrator’s ridiculous accents.