{"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\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harper Perennial\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/17\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780063458437\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"J. R. Thornton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52181365326005,"sku":"9780063458437","price":16.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_036e8d06-5a91-455f-a83c-504633295a71.jpg?v=1768922872","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/lucien-9780063458437","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}