Jean Cocteau - Le Livre Blanc

Le Livre Blanc, a ‘white paper’ on homosexual love, was first published anonymously in France by Cocteau’s contemporary Maurice Sachs and was at once decried as by the critics as obscene. It is now possible to issue it under Cocteau’s name.

The semi-autobiographical narrative describes a youth’s love affairs with a succession of boys and men during the early years of this century. The young man’s self-deceptive attempts to find fulfilment, first through women and then by way of the church, are movingly conveyed; the book ends with a strong plea for male homosexuality to be accepted without censure. The book is fully illustrated and includes many woodcuts by the author.

‘An appealingly unhealthy blend of pure style and impure thoughts.’ – Edmund White, Independent on Sunday

‘Historically, politically and above all, aesthetically, this book is a masterpiece.’ – Pink Paper

‘A wonderful book.’ – Gay Times

JEAN COCTEAU (1889 – 1963) was the owner of a prodigious talent which spanned almost every branch of the arts. As poet, painter, film-maker, choreographer and novelist he achieved a genuine originality.

Translated from the French by Margaret Crosland

Publisher: Peter Owen
ISBN: 9780720610819
Pages: 76
Binding: softback
Dimensions: 178 x 122 mm

Price: £8.50

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