The Pretender: A Story of the Latin Quarter is a novel written by Robert William Service and first published in 1914. The story is set in Paris's Latin Quarter, a bohemian neighborhood known for its artistic and intellectual community. The protagonist of the story is a young man named Jean-Marie Trochu, who dreams of becoming a great artist. However, his lack of talent and ambition hinders his progress, and he is forced to work odd jobs to make ends meet.One day, Jean-Marie meets a wealthy American woman named Miss Betty Fairfax, who takes an interest in him and his art. She offers to support him financially and help him achieve his dreams, but Jean-Marie soon realizes that Miss Fairfax has ulterior motives. She wants him to pretend to be her fianc????? to impress her wealthy social circle, and Jean-Marie agrees to the arrangement.As Jean-Marie becomes more involved in Miss Fairfax's world, he begins to question his own identity and the authenticity of his art. He struggles with the pressure to conform to societal expectations and the fear of losing his true self. The novel explores themes of identity, art, and the consequences of pretending to be someone you're not.Overall, The Pretender: A Story of the Latin Quarter is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that offers a glimpse into the bohemian lifestyle of early 20th century Paris.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.