A true artist does not copy the world as such, but also does not create a non-existent world - he discovers the true world, which is in himself and to which he is the key.

An artsy, fantastic novel "The Careless Lover" (1932) is unlike Marcel Jouandeau's other books and reflects his short-lived fascination with surrealism. The main character - the mysterious Brice Aubusson - is Juando himself, whom his friends called the Cardinal, his friend Natalina is the eccentric socialite Nancy Cunard, Bariel is the writer Rene Crevel, d'Héristal is Crevel's lover, the artist Eugene McCown. For the first time in this novel, Juando decided to hint at his homosexuality, talking about Aubusson’s mystical connection with Lipse Dulier, the “demon from Orvieto.”

Lipse sat on the side of the road, looking and wearing like an angel. The ground was as gentle as a caress, and my friend's motionless smile calmed me. I pressed my head against his heart. And immediately his hands turned into a huge magical forest, where I saw strange birds and fiery predators - lions and tigers, who looked at me with love and admiration, as if I were a local deity. I called Lipse, and the forest answered me in his whisper; every leaf knew my name. A little later I fell asleep in the arms of the sea, and the earthly world rose around me, like giant pillars of this immense bed. Two stars sparkled brighter than the rest, and Lipse bent over me like the sky itself.