The Book of the Homeless (Le livre des sans-foyer)

The Book of the Homeless is a unique collaborative work edited by Edith Wharton in 1916 to raise funds for those displaced by World War I. Featuring contributions from prominent artists writers and composers of the time—including Henry James Joseph Conrad Jean Cocteau and Auguste Rodin—the book combines poetry prose visual art and musical scores to form a rich tribute to those impacted by the war. Léon Bakst a celebrated Russian artist contributed with his evocative illustrations adding depth and color to this diverse collection. The anthology is a testament to the international support for wartime relief and Wharton’s deep commitment to humanitarian causes. As a resident in France during the war she witnessed the devastation firsthand and mobilized her connections in the literary and artistic worlds to create this collaborative work. Each contribution reflects personal responses to the turmoil loss and resilience that the war imposed upon civilians and soldiers alike.