Some thoughts on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

When they hear the name Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, most people think of his book The Little Prince. I read it in Grade 13 French with Monsieur Esders. My favorite Saint Ex novel has always been  Pilote de Guerre , translated as  Flight to Arras). 

   

I have to admit, and I don’t say this to be pretentious, but I prefer to read Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in French.  Pilote de Guerre is  memoir of his time as the pilot of a reconnaissance plane during the Battle of France in 1940, and condenses months of flights into a single mission over the town of Arras. Although it is about events, it is a reflection on war that was written, in part, to encourage the Americans to enter the war.  The Little Prince was published a year after  Pilote de Guerre.

This year, Peter Sís has written an excellent picture book biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The Pilot and the Little Prince connects Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s birth in 1900 to the sense of adventure and unlimited potential that the new century brought. Fascinated by planes a little boy, he became one of the first pilots to fly mail, creating new routes in far away places. He even crashed in the desert, an event that became the inspiration for the story of The Little Prince. It covers his time in America as well as his role fighting for France. And it ends with his disappearance. The story os good, but it is Sís’ illustrations that capture the energy and imagination of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

 A picture book well worth picking up. I hope it will fuel your imagination.

 

Taming SOLSC 31

I started this month commenting about how busy life felt. Here we are at the end of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, the end of Spring Break, and going back to life as normal. School should be calm today. The kids are always sleepy the first day back after a break.

When I started the Challenge, I felt a little overwhelmed and wondered if I could do it. Although it took a little discipline, it was easier to find things to write about than I thought. Thank you to everyone who read and to everyone who commented. I read more than I commented on, and so my goal for next year is to comment more. Yes, I intend to participate next year. There was a point partway through when I thought I wouldn’t, but at the end, I can;t imagine not doing this again next year.

The End has me thinking of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

 

 

 

“No,” said the little prince. “I am looking for friends. What does that mean–‘tame’?”

“It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. It means to establish ties.”

“‘To establish ties’?”

“Just that,” said the fox. “To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . .”

Thank you the everyone who read, commented inspired  and tamed me. You are  unique in all the world.