Thomas l'imposteur: histoire (Thomas the impostor: a story)

Jean Cocteau’s short novel Thomas the Impostor tells the story of a young boy named Thomas who is mistaken for the relative of an affluent general during World War I. Thomas utilizes his new privilege to help a princess give refuge to wounded soldiers until he is apprehended and sent to fight alongside the very men he helped save.

Although the story doesn’t have a happy ending, it possesses elements of hope and courage that are reflected in Mary Reynolds’s design choices. She created a pattern of gilded stars that sparkle against the deep blue covers and endpapers. The spine is white with gold lettering and features Cocteau’s signature five-point star.