René, I loved this story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The first time I read "The Little Prince" I hated it, because it made me so sad. Years later, I read it again and as an adult I understood what the writer was conveying. When our first son was born, they made a musical film of "The Little Prince" starring Richard Kily with a score by Lerner and Loew. There was one song that the little Prince and the Fox sing called, "A Step at A Time." It was an upbeat number with the fox (played by Gene Wilder) dancing with the little Prince. I used to pick up my little son and whirl around with him to that song. When we read "The Little Prince" the sadness was mixed with the joy of the revelatory ending. I hope, with his adventurous spirit, that Antoine, experienced that joy before the end.
What a great tribute to the man! He would be proud to hear how his book inspired such wonderful events. Thank you for your comment! You're appreciated.
I shared this article with my book club. I picked this book for our December book. I first read it as a child. Read it again as a young adult. The third reading was just as meaningful as the first. Time has deepened & enhanced understanding and meaning, as it always does. You write beautifully.
Yes, indeed. This is the kind of book that has so many intricacies and insights; the more you read it, the more you discover. Thank you so much for your uplifting comment. I'm truly honored.
I still have a copy of it. Thanks for the background on St. Exupéry. He lived in NYC for a while, also. I thnk his wife (ex-wife?) lived there. I remember reading that somewhere.
You wouldn’t say that if you ever read Marie-Louise von Franz’s expose of St Exupery’s Le petit prince. She proves that he was totally dominated by his fear of The Mother archetype. I got rid of my son’s copy of the book after I read her treatise. He was far too neurotic for me! She was a student and analysand of Carl Jung. Her analysis is Jungian. It was published many years ago by Spring Publications, as were most of her books. Many of them were transcriptions of lectures she delivered in Switzerland at the C.G.Jung Institute.
“Proves" is a strong verb to use casually. One author would say this, another would propose the opposite. If you're going to use a treatise as evidence, your argument is null and void by default. The only treatise ever worth contemplating is Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature in which he examines the futility of reasoning through perceptions; and that all the actions of seeing, hearing, judging, loving, hating, and thinking, fall under this denomination. Thank you for your comment! ✌️
Von Franz is always very positive when she lectures, because that is what the book is. Her specialty is fairy tales. Many of her books are about the archetypal content of fairy tales. Since I always loved fairy tales, I read a bunch of her books about them. They are really fascinating! “Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales,” for instance. I just checked Google to see if I could find the title of that book but there were so many, and I read them such a long time ago, I just don’t remember the title of that book. I read a lot of her stuff. I actually own a bunch of her stuff. Maybe I’ll come out of my current state of despair to see if I can figure out which one it was. In time…
If someone I really respect puts down a book that I never cared about to begin with, I’ll tend to abide. Now try to put down anything written by John Irving, you’ll get a fight from me.
I was just thinking about The Little Prince last night. Which is no surprise as I'm living in Campeche, Florianopolis in Santa Catarina, Brasil. This was one of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry refueling / resupply stops on his airmail trips between Africa and South America. In fact, the Main Street where I live is called "Avenida Pequeno Príncipe." And I actually live in an airbnb studio that is themed after the book. Brasilians absolutely love this book--I've seen it at the most random places (a convenience store in Itacare, Bahia comes to mind). I see a lot of similarities between the story and the concept of saudade in Brasil. If you're unfamiliar this is a Portuguese word that. has "no translation" into other languages. Saudade is a deep, nostalgic longing for someone, something, or even an idea that is absent, but it's not just about missing; it’s a bittersweet feeling of suffering mixed with joy and pride for having experienced it. Much like The Little Prince, it reflects the idea that "what is essential is invisible to the eye"—our hearts still feel the connection, even in absence, whether we miss a loved one, a place from the past or a moment that hasn't even happened yet.
Beautifully put. I lived in Salvador, Bahia, so I'm familiar with your words. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! It made me travelled in time to a place of which I do have muitas saudades. Obrigado! 🌱✌️🌱
I hope that killer German pilot had nightmares until his death or will have them if still alive for the crime to humanity and literature he committed. Shame on him forever.
I have been inspired by Le Petit Prince, but a short piece he wrote, the title of which I just can't remember--it included his observations on wild geese and their impact on the domestic barnyard geese as they flew over--but it was a powerful testimony to the poet's gift.
My first book in French as a child. ❤️
That's what i call great beginnings! ❤️
What an interesting character, what a life of adventure albeit with a tragic ending. I read The Little Prince when I was a kid.
I just read it again. If you get the chance, do it. I guarantee you won't regret it.
Lovely. Makes me want to re-read Le petit prince. Thank you.
Best idea ever. :)
René, I loved this story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The first time I read "The Little Prince" I hated it, because it made me so sad. Years later, I read it again and as an adult I understood what the writer was conveying. When our first son was born, they made a musical film of "The Little Prince" starring Richard Kily with a score by Lerner and Loew. There was one song that the little Prince and the Fox sing called, "A Step at A Time." It was an upbeat number with the fox (played by Gene Wilder) dancing with the little Prince. I used to pick up my little son and whirl around with him to that song. When we read "The Little Prince" the sadness was mixed with the joy of the revelatory ending. I hope, with his adventurous spirit, that Antoine, experienced that joy before the end.
What a great tribute to the man! He would be proud to hear how his book inspired such wonderful events. Thank you for your comment! You're appreciated.
I shared this article with my book club. I picked this book for our December book. I first read it as a child. Read it again as a young adult. The third reading was just as meaningful as the first. Time has deepened & enhanced understanding and meaning, as it always does. You write beautifully.
Yes, indeed. This is the kind of book that has so many intricacies and insights; the more you read it, the more you discover. Thank you so much for your uplifting comment. I'm truly honored.
I still have a copy of it. Thanks for the background on St. Exupéry. He lived in NYC for a while, also. I thnk his wife (ex-wife?) lived there. I remember reading that somewhere.
Yes, he did. As a matter of fact, there is where he wrote his masterpiece, TLP.
I know exactly where he lived & wrote it!
In NYC? Wow! I believe he wrote it in Asharoken, Long Island, before he rejoined the war effort.
Thanks. I loved that. Well done.
Thank you!
Simply adore “The Little Prince”
Thank you for writing about the amazing man who wrote it & the fearless life he lived.
Really! You'd think after getting your head banged so many times, you'd give up. Not him. He kept on going. Thank you for your lovely comment! 😘
The little prince. Author was a mail carrier. He lost of life delivering the mail and his plane went down someplace in the desert
😂
You wouldn’t say that if you ever read Marie-Louise von Franz’s expose of St Exupery’s Le petit prince. She proves that he was totally dominated by his fear of The Mother archetype. I got rid of my son’s copy of the book after I read her treatise. He was far too neurotic for me! She was a student and analysand of Carl Jung. Her analysis is Jungian. It was published many years ago by Spring Publications, as were most of her books. Many of them were transcriptions of lectures she delivered in Switzerland at the C.G.Jung Institute.
“Proves" is a strong verb to use casually. One author would say this, another would propose the opposite. If you're going to use a treatise as evidence, your argument is null and void by default. The only treatise ever worth contemplating is Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature in which he examines the futility of reasoning through perceptions; and that all the actions of seeing, hearing, judging, loving, hating, and thinking, fall under this denomination. Thank you for your comment! ✌️
Von Franz is always very positive when she lectures, because that is what the book is. Her specialty is fairy tales. Many of her books are about the archetypal content of fairy tales. Since I always loved fairy tales, I read a bunch of her books about them. They are really fascinating! “Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales,” for instance. I just checked Google to see if I could find the title of that book but there were so many, and I read them such a long time ago, I just don’t remember the title of that book. I read a lot of her stuff. I actually own a bunch of her stuff. Maybe I’ll come out of my current state of despair to see if I can figure out which one it was. In time…
You got rid of one of the best books in the history of literature because of someone’s lecture and opinion on the author?
If someone I really respect puts down a book that I never cared about to begin with, I’ll tend to abide. Now try to put down anything written by John Irving, you’ll get a fight from me.
And von Franz’s book is devastating.
I was just thinking about The Little Prince last night. Which is no surprise as I'm living in Campeche, Florianopolis in Santa Catarina, Brasil. This was one of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry refueling / resupply stops on his airmail trips between Africa and South America. In fact, the Main Street where I live is called "Avenida Pequeno Príncipe." And I actually live in an airbnb studio that is themed after the book. Brasilians absolutely love this book--I've seen it at the most random places (a convenience store in Itacare, Bahia comes to mind). I see a lot of similarities between the story and the concept of saudade in Brasil. If you're unfamiliar this is a Portuguese word that. has "no translation" into other languages. Saudade is a deep, nostalgic longing for someone, something, or even an idea that is absent, but it's not just about missing; it’s a bittersweet feeling of suffering mixed with joy and pride for having experienced it. Much like The Little Prince, it reflects the idea that "what is essential is invisible to the eye"—our hearts still feel the connection, even in absence, whether we miss a loved one, a place from the past or a moment that hasn't even happened yet.
Beautifully put. I lived in Salvador, Bahia, so I'm familiar with your words. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! It made me travelled in time to a place of which I do have muitas saudades. Obrigado! 🌱✌️🌱
I hope that killer German pilot had nightmares until his death or will have them if still alive for the crime to humanity and literature he committed. Shame on him forever.
Excellent. Thanks for this, Renée.
I have been inspired by Le Petit Prince, but a short piece he wrote, the title of which I just can't remember--it included his observations on wild geese and their impact on the domestic barnyard geese as they flew over--but it was a powerful testimony to the poet's gift.
This was a great writer and a wonderful soul.
Disjointed writing here. Sorry.
Kind if emotional....