{"product_id":"lucien-a-novel-isbn-9780063458437","title":"Lucien: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A crisp, twisting tale in the hands of a writer in the bloom of his abundant talents.\" — Graydon Carter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\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, \u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as \u003ci\u003eThe Secret History, The Incendiaries\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCreation Lake,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Talented Mr. Ripley.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e is a campus novel, a crime story, and a coming-of-age tale wrapped up in one stellar package by J. R. Thornton, whose gifts for plot, dialogue, and character are considerable.\" ⎯ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAir Mail\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e is a vicious sendoff of class hierarchy, art world snobbery, and academic exclusivity, centered around a naive, struggling artist roped into his wealthy classmate’s scheme to copy masterpieces, then sell them as the real thing. The book is already earning comparisons to Highsmith’s work, and for good reason: Thornton delights in skewering society’s upper echelons and has an enjoyably warped sense of characterization.” — \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCrimeReads\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This is a pin-sharp page turner about what it takes to make it; we’d recommend for almost anyone except parents with students about to matriculate—they should maybe wait until after move-in day.\"\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e ⎯ Town \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“There’s something special about Lucien Orsini-Conti, the charismatic enigma at the heart of this addictive thriller . . . . A wild ride readers won’t soon forget. ” — \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e fits neatly into the genre of campus novel, alongside such classics as Curtis Sittenfeld’s \u003ci\u003ePrep\u003c\/i\u003e, Donna Tartt’s \u003ci\u003eThe Secret History\u003c\/i\u003e (especially) and John Knowles’ \u003ci\u003eA Separate Peace \u003c\/i\u003e. . . . Thornton captures the college scene with witty ease.\" ⎯ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMinneapolis Star Tribune\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Although the book opens with a mystery—what happened to Lucien?—readers should expect more of a coming-of-age campus novel than a thriller. Its themes, though they skew a bit dark, are simple and emotionally moving. Thornton's snappy dialogue drives characterization and plot as Chris’ awkward, earnest voice highlights the strange rituals that define elite society. Chris's coming-of-age and exploration of class differences amidst mystery will appeal to . . . dark academia readers.” ⎯ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The perils of hero-worship have rarely been demonstrated with such intensity and style.\" ⎯ \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe London Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"From the first encounter, the title character propels both narrative and narrator forward with an ever-looming anvil of class injustice waiting to drop. The book is rife with final clubs, art forgery, and a Gatsby-esque fascination with a subculture of the Harvard experience.\" ⎯ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarvard Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A crisp, twisting tale in the hands of a writer in the bloom of his abundant talents.\" — \u003cb\u003eGraydon Carter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An intense character-driven thriller novel about using someone and the consequences of betrayal.” – \u003cb\u003eRed Carpet Crash\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e is thrilling in every way—the propulsive narrative, the knife-sharp prose, the nuanced and multi-faceted characters, the unflinching exploration of class, ego, art, and authenticity. J.R. Thornton has married \u003ci\u003eSuccession\u003c\/i\u003e with \u003ci\u003eThe Secret History\u003c\/i\u003e, and the result is an utterly original and deeply affecting novel that lays bare the pressure and perils of privilege.\" — \u003cb\u003eBret Anthony Johnston, author of \u003ci\u003eWe Burn Daylight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"J.R. Thornton writes with precision and honesty about the fragile math of male friendship, where violence and love are pals, and vulnerability is the harbinger of rage. In a time when men are not supposed to feel anything, \u003ci\u003eLucien \u003c\/i\u003efeels everything. It's an explosion of captivating, haunting, and utterly real emotion.\" — \u003cb\u003ePatrick Somerville, creator of \u003ci\u003eStation Eleven \u003c\/i\u003eand author of \u003ci\u003eThe Cradle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Fine art, forgery, young friendship, and the perils of greed—\u003ci\u003eLucien\u003c\/i\u003e is a closely observed and finely crafted campus thriller.\" — \u003cb\u003eNick McDonell, author of \u003ci\u003eQuiet Street\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An amazing piece of work, well written and clever but most of all, deeply honest and unvarnished.” — \u003cb\u003eFareed Zakaria, author of\u003ci\u003e Age of Revolutions\u003c\/i\u003e and host of CNN’s \u003ci\u003eFareed Zakaria GPS\u003c\/i\u003e, on\u003ci\u003e Beautiful Country\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Simple but wonderful . . . authentic, pure and heartbreaking . . . (Thornton) is an exceptionally gifted young writer.” — \u003cb\u003eMo Yan, 2012 Nobel Laureate in Literature, on \u003ci\u003eBeautiful Country\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Country\u003c\/i\u003e is, in a word, beautiful. A novel with morality at the center, but absurdity all around.\" — \u003cb\u003eGary Shteyngart, author of \u003ci\u003eOur Country Friends\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSuper Sad True Love Story\u003c\/i\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eBeautiful Country\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48588021498085,"sku":"NP9780063458437","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780063458437.jpg?v=1773960606","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/lucien-a-novel-isbn-9780063458437","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}