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Happy Birthday, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Author of “The Little Prince”
June 29, 2009
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote one of the most popular books ever published, “The Little Prince.” His adventurous spirit prompted him to become a pilot for the French Air Force, and later an airmail and test pilot. His life ended during a mission over the Mediterranean Sea.
Early Days
Antoine de Saint-Exupery was born Antoin, Jean Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint-Exupéry on June 29, 1900, in Lyon, France. According to Site Officiel Saint Exupery, Antoine was the third of five children born to his parents, John Viscount de Saint-Exupery and Mary Fonscolombe.
Saint-Exupéry's father died when he was a young boy, and the children then went to live with an aunt. At the age of 17, Saint-Exupéry was greatly affected by the death of his younger brother. At 19, Antoine failed the oral part of his entrance exam for the Ecole Navale (naval academy) and found himself doing odd jobs.
In 1921 Saint-Exupéry joined the French air force and learned to fly a plane. According to PBS, after his military service he became a commercial pilot, flying airmail to the Sahara desert. It was duirng this time that he began to write about his adventures as a pilot.
In the 1930s Saint-Exupéry worked as a test pilot and also as a reporter. He suffered injuries from a few flying accidents, and also patented 14 aircraft-related inventions.
Saint-Exupéry's father died when he was a young boy, and the children then went to live with an aunt. At the age of 17, Saint-Exupéry was greatly affected by the death of his younger brother. At 19, Antoine failed the oral part of his entrance exam for the Ecole Navale (naval academy) and found himself doing odd jobs.
In 1921 Saint-Exupéry joined the French air force and learned to fly a plane. According to PBS, after his military service he became a commercial pilot, flying airmail to the Sahara desert. It was duirng this time that he began to write about his adventures as a pilot.
In the 1930s Saint-Exupéry worked as a test pilot and also as a reporter. He suffered injuries from a few flying accidents, and also patented 14 aircraft-related inventions.
Notable Accomplishments
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's first two books were written about flying. “Carrier Sud,” written in 1929 and translated to “Southern Mail” in 1933, was about a young airmail courier; “Vol de Nuit,” written in 1931 and translated to “Night Flight” in 1932, was written about the adventure and danger faced by the very first pilots. He later wrote about his own experiences as a pilot in the novel “Wind, Sand and Stars.”
At the start of World War II, Saint-Exupéry rejoined the French Air Force, but when the Nazis overtook France he left the country to live in the United States. According to PBS, he wanted to join the U.S. air force but was turned down. He used his newfound free time to write the book “Flight to Arras,” published in 1942. Stacy Schiff writes in the New York Times that Saint-Exupéry's time in the United States was not a happy—he was in poor health, felt isolated, longed for his country, and had a somewhat estranged relationship with his wife. Some say it is because of his unhappiness that he wrote and illustrated the book for which he is most well known, “Le Petit Prince,” aka “The Little Prince.”
“The Little Prince” is, according to the New York Times, “an allegory of Saint-Exupéry's own life,” demonstrating his love for his wife (represented by the rose in the book), his search for companionship, his belief in the magical, and his search for inner tranquility.
At the start of World War II, Saint-Exupéry rejoined the French Air Force, but when the Nazis overtook France he left the country to live in the United States. According to PBS, he wanted to join the U.S. air force but was turned down. He used his newfound free time to write the book “Flight to Arras,” published in 1942. Stacy Schiff writes in the New York Times that Saint-Exupéry's time in the United States was not a happy—he was in poor health, felt isolated, longed for his country, and had a somewhat estranged relationship with his wife. Some say it is because of his unhappiness that he wrote and illustrated the book for which he is most well known, “Le Petit Prince,” aka “The Little Prince.”
“The Little Prince” is, according to the New York Times, “an allegory of Saint-Exupéry's own life,” demonstrating his love for his wife (represented by the rose in the book), his search for companionship, his belief in the magical, and his search for inner tranquility.
The Rest of the Story
In 1943 Saint-Exupéry left the United States to rejoin some of his countrymen in the air force in North Africa. In 1944 he flew out for a reconnaissance mission and was not heard from again.
Until recently, the cause of Saint-Exupéry’s death was unknown. In 1998 a bracelet was found that is believed to have belonged to Saint-Exupéry. In 2004 the remains of his crashed plane were identified on the Mediterranean seabed. Some believed that he crashed his plane intentionally.
In March of 2008, however, a former German pilot, Horst Rippert, admitted that he pursued and shot down Saint-Exupéry’s plane. Rippert told The Associated Press that he was a fan of Saint-Exupéry’s work: “In our youth, at school, we had all read him. We loved his books. If I had known, I would not have opened fire. Not on him!”
Until recently, the cause of Saint-Exupéry’s death was unknown. In 1998 a bracelet was found that is believed to have belonged to Saint-Exupéry. In 2004 the remains of his crashed plane were identified on the Mediterranean seabed. Some believed that he crashed his plane intentionally.
In March of 2008, however, a former German pilot, Horst Rippert, admitted that he pursued and shot down Saint-Exupéry’s plane. Rippert told The Associated Press that he was a fan of Saint-Exupéry’s work: “In our youth, at school, we had all read him. We loved his books. If I had known, I would not have opened fire. Not on him!”
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