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Read a 3-part blog series written by the author here.

'This book offers an important and accessible account of raw capitalism in 19th century Britain, the problems of fraud and speculation that came with it, and attempts to secure trust and limit risk in response. It is a compelling, even riveting account which cleverly blends culture and economics.' –Frank Trentmann, author of Free Trade Nation

'Ian Klaus documents in fascinating detail just how difficult it was to re-establish trust among people as capitalism developed in the 19th century.' –Larry Neal, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

'In this sparkling study, based on deep research and financial understanding, and full of colorful characters, Ian Klaus has provided a brilliant analysis of British capitalism in the 19th century. We discover how much of what characterizes modern capitalism was formed in these years. It is continuing in similar ways in our own day. Adam Smith on the surface, so many fraudsters below. The book is a triumph, full of insight, and a delight to read.' –Peter Stansky, Stanford University

'Forging Capitalism is an engaging history of how Britain attempted to negotiate this tension in the century running up to the outbreak of the first world war. The title is a pun. It is a study of the rogues, swindlers and fraudsters who tried to benefit from the market economy through the use of deceit. It is also an examination of how capitalism itself was forged through evolving mechanisms to curb these dishonest tendencies.' –Daniel Ben-Ami, Financial Times

'The details as presented by Klaus are not simply entertaining, they provide valuable lessons for today ... Klaus is both persuasive and a good narrator.' –Edward Hadas, Reuters Breakingviews 

'Klaus has written a fascinating study of an intangible: trust ... Klaus traces those beginnings with a finely-wrought balance between those colorful rogues and swindlers and broader process they're unwittingly shaping ... [R]eaders should jump right in: Forging Capitalism is firmly grounded in the past, but make no mistake: we're all still living in that world.' –Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly

'As Ian Klaus explains in his engaging new book, Forging Capitalism: Rogues, Swindlers, Frauds, and the Rise of Modern Finance, every phase of our market society's expansion was shaped by deceit, fraud and mountebankery.' –Chris Lehmann, In These Times

'An irresistible title. The book gives an account of the essential role played by trust as capitalist markets developed through the century ... This central argument is illustrated through a series of brilliant stories about both the evolution of new assets and commercial relationships but also about a series of colourful rogues and swindlers.' –Diane Coyle, The Enlightened Economist