{"product_id":"lucien-9780063458437","title":"Lucien","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA gifted yet financially disadvantaged artist falls victim to the manipulative control of his wealthy, enigmatic Harvard roommate in this incendiary novel from the author of \u003cem\u003eBeautiful Country--\u003c\/em\u003ea piercing\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eexploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher \"Atlas\" Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBorn to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut Lucien's charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien's behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. \"Clark Rockefeller\") and Adam Wheeler, \u003cem\u003eLucien\u003c\/em\u003e is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as \u003cem\u003eThe Secret History, The Incendiaries\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCreation Lake, \u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Talented Mr. Ripley.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e J. R. Thornton\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harper Perennial\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/17\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.88h x 5.29w x 0.88d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780063458437\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThornton, J. R.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eBorn in London, \u003cstrong\u003eJ. R. Thornton \u003c\/strong\u003egraduated from Harvard College in 2014 where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he competed for Harvard and on the professional circuit. He was a member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, obtaining an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing. He now lives in Italy, working for AC Milan. \u003cem\u003eLucien \u003c\/em\u003eis his second novel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"J. R. Thornton \/ Paperback \/ English","offer_id":47754044571805,"sku":"9780063458437","price":37.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_ddc93ce2-69c4-4c4d-9501-bbe1a919f8ae.jpg?v=1774331912","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/lucien-9780063458437","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}