March 10, 2026
LUCIEN: Talking with author J.R. Thornton
A story of manipulation and fine art forgery to make money to pay for a privileged lifestyle. The backdrop is Harvard where prep school grads arrive with social skills that protagonist Chris doesn’t have. And he feels disadvantaged socially as a result. Lucien senses that and pressures Chris to forge works of art.
A gifted but guileless young painter (Chris/Atlas) on scholarship to Harvard is drawn into the orbit of a dazzling, wealthy, Euro jetsetter student, Lucien, who manipulates him. Further, Lucien realizes that he can monetize his protege's painting genius by having him forge known artists work. But the narrative of great privilege and wealth begins to fall apart driving Lucien to pressure Chris to the breaking point.
