A sweeping and richly captivating novel about an indomitable heroine coming of age in the aftermath of catastrophe, and her quest for love and reinvention-from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Three Stages of Amazement. Scrappy fifteen-year-old Vera Johnson-illegitimate daughter of Rose, the notorious proprietor of San Francisco's ritziest bordello and ally to the city's corrupt politicians-narrowly survives the devastating 1906 earthquake. Relying on her wit and determination, Vera and her unlikely new family of survivors navigate a world reborn in the wake of disaster. In Vera, Carol Edgarian creates a panoramic and deeply compassionate world where notions of honor, survival, and love are tested, and grace is hard-won. Vera celebrates the bold resilience its heroine bears in the face of a disregarding mother and a colorful cohort of liars, thieves, and con artists who would manipulate the teenage girl while her righteous neighbors judge her for her low birth. A ravishing, heartbreaking, and profound affirmation of youth and a testament to a city eternally reimagining itself, Vera's story brings to life legendary characters-tenor Enrico Caruso, indicted Mayor Eugene Schmitz and boss Abe Ruef, tabloid celebrity and fabled doyenne Alma Spreckels, as well as an unforgettable cast that includes Vera's young lover, Bobby, protector of the city's tribe of orphans, and three generations of a Chinese family competing and conspiring with Vera. Told with unflinching candor and wit, this coming-of-age adventure investigates the nature of sex, power, and the fortitude required to lead, as it charts one tumultuous year in the life of a girl and her city. This tale of improbable outcomes and alliances takes hold from the very first page, gifting readers with remarkable scenes of devastation, renewal, and joy. Edgarian's Vera is a timeless and timely novel of an indomitable spirit's quest for love and reinvention in the aftermath of catastrophe.