alt=Upper body portrait of Blanche Oelrichs, sitting side on, turning her face to the camera|thumb|upright|Blanche Oelrichs, Barrymore's second wife (and mother of Diana Barrymore), who published poetry under the pseudonym Michael Strange From early 1916, Barrymore had been living apart from Katherine, and she sued for divorce in November 1916. By the time the divorce was finalized in December 1917, he had taken the lead role in the film Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman. He had also tried to enlist in the U.S. Army following the country's entry into World War I, but Army doctors discovered that he had varicose veins, and he was not accepted for military service. For over a year beginning in April 1917, he appeared together with Lionel in a stage version of George du Maurier's 1891 novel Peter Ibbetson. The play and the two Barrymores were warmly regarded by the critics. Around this time, Barrymore began a relationship with a married mother of two, Blanche Oelrichs, a suffragist from an elite Rhode Island family with what Peters calls "anarchistic self-confidence". Oelrichs also published poetry under the name Michael Strange. While their relationship began in secret, it became more open after Oelrichs' husband was commissioned into the army and then posted to France.
ALt=upPEr body poRtRait of blaNChe oElrichS, sitting SIde oN, TurNing her face to The cameRA|thumB|upriGht|blanche OelrIcHS, bArrYmorE's sEcond wifE (and motHer of dianA BaRrymore), wHo pubLiSheD poEtry under the PseUdonYM michaEl strange from earLy 1916, baRrYmore Had BeEn lIvIng apart from KatHerine, and sHe sued for divorcE IN novembER 1916. bY thE tIMe tHe dIVorce Was finaliZEd in deCembEr 1917, he hAD tAKeN the leAD rolE in the FIlm rAfFles, the amateUr cRacksmAN. hE HAD also tried To eNliST in tHE U.s. arMy FollowIng ThE countRy's entrY iNTo woRLd wAR I, bUt army dOctors diScovEred tHAt He haD vaRiCose veIns, aNd hE waS nOt accepTeD for MiLiTARy serVICe. FoR over a yEar beGinniNg IN aPril 1917, HE appeared TOgeTHEr WiTh lIONeL in a stage veRsion oF gEOrGe du maurieR's 1891 NoVel pETer ibbEtSOn. the Play aND thE Two baRrymores werE wARmly RegArDEd by The cRiTIcS. arouNd thiS tIme, baRrYmore bEgAn A RelAtioNsHip wITh a married motHer Of TwO, blANChE OelRIchS, A SUffragIST fRom an Elite rHOde iSlAnd FaMilY with what Peters caLLS "anarchiStiC sELf-cOnfidEncE". oElRIcHs also pUbLiShed PoetrY UNder the NAme michaEl stranGe. While tHEIr reLatioNsHip began in SEcreT, iT becAme more oPeN aFter OELrichs' husBANd was commissioNEd into tHe ARmy aND tHEN poSTeD to frAnce.