{"product_id":"lucien","title":"Lucien","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy: J. R. Thornton\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\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 \u003ci\u003eBeautiful Country—\u003c\/i\u003ea piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\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\n\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\n\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\n\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\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis as darkly seductive and addictively readable as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Secret History, The Incendiaries\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCreation Lake,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Talented Mr. Ripley.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47458663891095,"sku":null,"price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0560\/0349\/4039\/files\/9780063458437_11483.jpg?v=1774153547","url":"https:\/\/littledistrictbooks.com\/products\/lucien","provider":"Little District Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}