Lucien by J.R. Thornton
J.R. Thornton’s second novel, Lucien, is a captivating cautionary tale of a master manipulator who persistently abused the friendship of his naïve college roommate, dazzled by the trappings of wealth. It’s an erudite thriller replete with unforeseen twists involving two Harvard College undergraduates who become art forgers. In a single-page prologue, narrator and protagonist Christopher Novotny informs the reader he is ready to unburden secrets kept close for years by revealing his fraught, toxic relationship with Lucien Orsini.
A Promising Beginning Shaped by Talent and Hardship
Chris is a first-generation American and only child born to educated, hardworking impoverished immigrants who fled to Baltimore from former Communist Czechoslovakia. His father, who died when Chris was a toddler, had been a mechanical engineer but could only find menial work, and his mother, who spoke better English, worked as a waitress. Chris was shy, introverted, and studious with a passion for creating art. This was nurtured by Marcus, an art professor who befriended him and his mother by providing supplies and free lessons. Briefly, Chris became a child prodigy with gallery representation, which resulted in some sales. His AP classes, grades, SAT scores and a recommendation from Harvard College faculty member Marcus won him a four-year full-ride scholarship to the venerable institution.
Lucien Alexandre Orsini-Conti is described by Christopher as being “overpowering in a way that made it impossible to say no to whatever he was suggesting but managed to make it feel as if it had been my idea all along.”
They met as roommates. The uber-confident, ingratiatingly charming Lucien insisted Chris was too mundane a name, and henceforth he would call him “Atlas.” This artistically gifted, socially awkward youth was instantly overwhelmed and ensnared as a supporter and sidekick. Blond, handsome, impeccably dressed and well-groomed, Lucien presented himself as the epitome of sophistication. His father was a wealthy diplomat and his mother a socialite who lived abroad. He had attended a Swiss boarding school from age eight to twelve, then transferred to Eton, where he excelled in academics and athletics. He spoke five languages. Oxford was his parents’ first choice, but he preferred Harvard. His first year was a success with the freshman prize for economics and a coveted place on the crew team.
The Slippery Slope into Deception
What a heady experience it was to be introduced as a new friend of this popular “Big Man on Campus,” and Lucien knew everyone who counted: the well-connected dimmer legacy students and the sons and daughters of more recently wealthy billionaires, celebrities and business heads. Newly christened Atlas, who had never even attended a prom, was suddenly popular and was even presented with an invitation to join Hasty Pudding, the oldest and one of the most elite collegiate social clubs in the United States. Lucien was there to prop him up and provide lessons in confidence building. However, his scholarship did not extend to extracurricular activities or the nearly nightly expensive dinners and drinks. Chris was burning through his savings quickly.
Initiation fees and bi-annual dues for “The Pudding” would cost almost $3000! What was a poor boy from Baltimore to do? Svengali-like charismatic Lucien persuades Atlas to use his talent for fine art painting to create convincing forgeries that he could sell to galleries or less honorable “collectors.” One persuasive argument he presented was the bold statement former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Thomas Hoving made in his 1996 book Impressions: The Hunt for Big Time Art Fakes, which is based on years of examining thousands of works of art, estimated that “40% of artworks in circulation globally were forgeries or inauthentic.” To allay fearful reticence, he noted that art forgers, if caught, historically were given only light prison sentences, and those enormous probable profits made the deception eminently worth considering.
Chris all too easily abandons his purpose, moral compass and integrity by allowing himself to be persuaded to opt for transitory pleasures and disregard the potentially devastating price to be paid should the scheme unravel.
Is the generously bestowed friendship genuine or a forgery? Lucien is a novel to read, consider and share. The verisimilitude of the compelling plot, arresting characters and brilliant writing of J.R. Thornton is enhanced by his personal insights as a privileged youth who attended elite private schools and graduated from Harvard in 2014.
About J.R. Thornton:
Born in London, J. R. Thornton graduated from Harvard and later earned an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar. He lives in Italy, working for AC Milan. Lucien is his second novel.
