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.

REVIEWS

"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

PRODUCT DETAILS
Paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
ISBN: 978-0063458437
Pages: 320