Lucien - by J R Thornton (Paperback)

About the Book

"A 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 Beautiful Country-a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt. The 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. Born 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? Sensing 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 naèive artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers. But 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. Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. "Clark Rockefeller") and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"A crisp, twisting tale in the hands of a writer in the bloom of his abundant talents." -- Graydon Carter

A 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 Beautiful Country--a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.

The 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.

Born 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?

Sensing 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.

But 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.

Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. "Clark Rockefeller") and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Review Quotes

"Lucien 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." ⎯ Air Mail

"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." ⎯ Town & Country

"Who doesn't love a story about an outsider gaining access to some hall of privilege and having their illusions shattered?" ⎯ New York Magazine

"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. " -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Lucien fits neatly into the genre of campus novel, alongside such classics as Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep, Donna Tartt's The Secret History (especially) and John Knowles' A Separate Peace . . . . Thornton captures the college scene with witty ease." ⎯ Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Lucien 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." -- CrimeReads

"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." ⎯ Booklist

"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." ⎯ Harvard Magazine

"The perils of hero-worship have rarely been demonstrated with such intensity and style." ⎯ The London Times

"Dark academia with a dangerous undertow, consider Lucien a cautionary tale about ambition and letting a charming stranger redesign your life." ⎯ Seattle Times

"A crisp, twisting tale in the hands of a writer in the bloom of his abundant talents." -- Graydon Carter

"Lucien is an entertaining read--very much an oncoming car crash you can't look away from." ⎯ The Gloss

"Lucien is a novel to read, consider and share . . . . Compelling plot, arresting characters, and brilliant writing" ⎯ BookTrib

"Provocative . . . . With strongly-etched characters who could easily fit into a Patricia Highsmith tale of deceit and illusory surfaces and personalities, Lucien is a clever variation of the pact with a highly handsome devil trope, albeit with a strong, malingering touch of homo-eroticism and proves both satirical and realistically sharp . . . . Ambiguous, propulsive and intense." ⎯ Crimetime

"Excellent . . . . It's a gripping story that will hook you right from the start. These characters that you can't help but love and hate, their misadventures that get wilder, darker, and dangerous. And, the beautiful trappings of wealth that lure you in, only to leave you choking on the ugliness lurking just beneath it all. It's mesmerizing, thought-provoking and one hell of a ride. Lucien is a definite must-read." ⎯ A Bookish Way of Life

"The narrative takes unusual turns, keeping the reader on their toes--just when you expect to go left, Thornton takes you right--and the insights into how forgeries are created are fascinating. The ending is a bit surprising as well, which is a credit to Thornton's ability to steer the story's innate dark academia tendencies toward human complexity and nuance . . . Lucien is a precocious yet sizzling suspense story about art, truth, and the prohibitive cost of trying to be someone else." ⎯ Novels Alive

"Lucien by J. R. Thornton offers his readers a original novel featuring a skillful blending of friendship, coming of age, and psychological suspense. Thornton has a remarkable and genuine flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative driven storytelling style that quickly engages the reader from start to finish." ⎯ Midwest Book Review

"An intense character-driven thriller novel about using someone and the consequences of betrayal." - Red Carpet Crash

"Lucien 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 Succession with The Secret History, and the result is an utterly original and deeply affecting novel that lays bare the pressure and perils of privilege." -- Bret Anthony Johnston, author of We Burn Daylight

"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, Lucien feels everything. It's an explosion of captivating, haunting, and utterly real emotion." -- Patrick Somerville, creator of Station Eleven and author of The Cradle

"Fine art, forgery, young friendship, and the perils of greed--Lucien is a closely observed and finely crafted campus thriller." -- Nick McDonell, author of Quiet Street

"An amazing piece of work, well written and clever but most of all, deeply honest and unvarnished." -- Fareed Zakaria, author of Age of Revolutions and host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, on Beautiful Country

"Simple but wonderful . . . authentic, pure and heartbreaking . . . (Thornton) is an exceptionally gifted young writer." -- Mo Yan, 2012 Nobel Laureate in Literature, on Beautiful Country

"Beautiful Country is, in a word, beautiful. A novel with morality at the center, but absurdity all around." -- Gary Shteyngart, author of Our Country Friends and Super Sad True Love Story, on Beautiful Country