| Summary: | While Vercors is often remembered for one book only, his works are extensive in both number and subject. Starting from the twenties, he gained some notoriety as engraver and illustrator under his real name, Jean Bruller. What is the relationship between the carefree illustrator and the engaged writer? According to contemporary criticism, the myth of the “metamorphosis” of Vercors needs to be reassessed. In this article, I argue that the concept of metamorphosis can be fruitfully substituted with that of hybridity. The hybridization between the expressive modes of writing and visual arts marks the texts of Vercors regardless of their genre. This contention is mainly developed through an analysis of 21 recettes de mort violente, a collection of engravings. The stylistic features and editorial history of this work problematize all claims that Bruller the illustrator disappears once Vercors the writer takes centerstage.
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