
1927–1935
Illustrations for his own books
From the 1920s he illustrated his own writings, building figurative form from minimal strokes: an illustrated edition of “Thomas l’imposteur” appeared in 1927, “Opium” and “Le Livre blanc” in 1930, and in 1935 a portfolio of 60 illustrations for “Les Enfants terribles.”
1928
Publishes “Le Livre blanc” anonymously
He published “Le Livre blanc,” a mildly homoerotic, semi-autobiographical novel, anonymously; he never repudiated its authorship, and a later edition features his foreword and drawings.
1929
The opium cure and the novel “Les Enfants terribles”
During a strenuous opium cure he wrote “Les Enfants terribles” in a week and kept the illustrated diary “Opium: Diary of a Cure”; he was supported by his friend the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain, under whose influence he briefly returned to the sacraments of the Church.
1930s
A round-the-world reportage for Paris-Soir
He made a journey around the world and reported on it for the newspaper Paris-Soir in “Mon premier voyage: Tour du monde en 80 jours,” a neo-Jules Verne travel reportage.
1932–1934
Living with Princess Natalia Paley
He lived with the Russian actress Princess Natalia Paley; rumours spoke of an affair, but Paley’s biographers regard the relationship as purely platonic.