{"product_id":"lucien","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","brand":"J R Thornton","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47279107866860,"sku":"9780063458437","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0684\/1791\/3068\/files\/9780063458437.jpg?v=1770260877","url":"https:\/\/intl.allstora.com\/products\/lucien","provider":"Allstora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}