Lucius Reeve (Lucius Race) Character Analysis in The Goldfinch

Lucius Reeve is a sinister man to whom Theo sells a fraudulent antique. This bad sale becomes an excuse for Reeve to intimidate Theo. It emerges that Reeve knows that Theo took The Goldfinch and wants to blackmail him into selling it to him. Ultimately, Hobie reveals that Reeve is a crook who, along with Havistock Irving, used to steal art, antiques, and other valuable objects from elderly people. Hobie turned the men into the police, causing Reeve to be sent to prison.

Lucius Reeve (Lucius Race) Character Timeline in The Goldfinch

The timeline below shows where the character Lucius Reeve (Lucius Race) appears in The Goldfinch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...The client who is causing trouble is “a prize Upper East Side swish” named Lucius Reeve. Reeve knows that he's been swindled, and even worse, he thinks Hobie is part of... (full context)

The two go to lunch at the Harvard Club, and as Theo begs Reeve to listen to his explanations, Reeve insists that he has been intentionally deceived by both... (full context)

...doing so. Theo used the money from selling them to pay the shop’s debts. Now, Reeve says that Theo’s insistence that he takes care of the whole business side of things... (full context)

However, it has all gone wrong with Lucius Reeve. Reeve is a mysterious figure; Theo can find little information about him aside from his... (full context)

...woman Theo is sleeping with). Hobie adds that Theo also got a call from Lucius Reeve—which causes Theo to choke—and Platt. (full context)

...Theo does not believe is true. Theo then decides to say that he has another customer—Reeve—who is causing a fuss over a piece, and asks if Platt will pretend that the... (full context)

...a respectable background, yet capable of being intimidating and familiar with shady dealings. Theo calls Reeve, and asks to meet him downtown. Theo chooses a busy restaurant in Tribeca which Theo... (full context)

Theo feigns ignorance, but Reeve continues, saying that he knows that Theo was the only person to walk out of... (full context)

Finally, Reeve says he wants to buy the painting from Theo, offering only $500,000 with the implication... (full context)

...until it’s seen again.” Theo puts down the article and bursts out laughing. He calls Reeve “delusional,” and when Reeve threatens to call the art crimes police, Theo tells him to... (full context)

...to tell Hobie about stealing the painting, which will surely lose him his job. Although Reeve was wrong about Theo being connected to the drug traffickers, who are clearly using a... (full context)

...seem to imagine that it could be anything particularly grave. Theo tells him about Lucius Reeve (though he omits the detail about Platt), and then keeps talking, continuing his confession until... (full context)

...not going to “scold” Theo, but Theo then explains that the piece he sold to Reeve wasn’t the only time he pulled this trick. As he explains the whole scheme, Hobie... (full context)

...and Platt are both out, so he opts to ring back later. He thinks about Reeve, reasoning that Reeve has nothing to gain from turning him in to the police. Moreover,... (full context)

Meanwhile, although Theo hasn’t seen Reeve in person, he has received a series of threatening letters from him. One day, Hobie... (full context)

...found out Theo’s last name and wanted to tell him to stay away from Lucius Reeve. He adds that if Theo needs any help, both he and Horst will back him... (full context)

...Hobie, and knew Welty. Havistock also mentions that he is a “close associate” of Lucius Reeve. He notes that Theo sold Reeve a “very interesting chest-on-chest.” Theo comments that he’s been... (full context)

...because he has changed his name multiple times. Hobie explains that Havistock and his partner, Lucius Race , would go and visit elderly women and men, then steal valuable items from them.... (full context)

...asks him to describe what Lucius looked like, which confirms that he is indeed Lucius Reeve. Hobie points out that these men are in no position to be trying to intimidate... (full context)

...to give Pippa the topaz necklace. He then says that two days before Christmas, Lucius Reeve came to the shop. Exasperated, Hobie says he now knows that Theo lied to him... (full context)

...were terrified when Theo suddenly disappeared from his engagement party. Things only got worse when Reeve showed up and told them about Theo stealing The Goldfinch. Hobie is horrified, and asks... (full context)