Antoine de Saint-Exupry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer, aviator, and poet best known for his novella The Little Prince. He was born in Lyon, France in 1900 and raised by his mother and aunt in the same city. His father, who had a military background, died when Saint-Exupéry was four years old. He was schooled in Switzerland and went on to join the French military. He then decided to pursue his dreams of becoming an aviator and in the 1920s went to live in different countries such as Canada, Argentina, and the United States, where he flew passenger planes.
In the 1930s, Saint-Exupéry was employed by the French airline, Air France, as chief editor of the company's magazine, 'L'Aerophile.' He wrote several articles for the magazine, expressing his love of flying, and it was here that he developed and honed his writing and storytelling skills. During this period, he also wrote his first novel, 'Wind, Sand and Stars.' This book was inspired by his travels and his experience of flying, and it ultimately earned him the Grand Prize from the French Academy.
In 1940, Saint-Exupéry was recalled to active duty in the French Air Force during the Second World War. While on a reconnaissance mission in 1944, his plane wentmissing and he was later pronounced dead. However, his body was never found, and some believe he might have been captured by the Germans.
Saint-Exupéry was a celebrated author, whose writing captured the beauty and tragedy of war. He wrote three books of fiction, 'Night Flight,' 'Southern Mail' and 'Wind, Sand and Stars.' In 'Night Flight,' a World War One pilot named Riviere sets out to make a dangerous flight over the Andes. The book follows his journey and discusses the consequences of war and its devastating effects on those involved. His other books, 'Southern Mail' and 'Wind, Sand and Stars' were semi-autobiographical works, in which he shared his experiences as a military aviator.
Saint-Exupéry is most famous for his novella 'The Little Prince.' Written in 1943 while he was living in the United States, this book tells the story of an aviator who is stranded in the desert on a mission and meets a mysterious little prince from a distant planet. Through his conversations with the little prince, the protagonist learns the importance of love, friendship, and responsibility. It has been translated into over 300 languages and is beloved by readers of all ages around the world.
Throughout his life, Saint-Exupéry wrote poems reflecting his love of nature, adventure, and experiencing life to the fullest. He wrote in French, so his poems were initially not as well known as his books, but they were later translated into other languages. Saint-Exupéry once said, "A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral." This quote is a perfect representation of his thinking and his vision of life.
Saint-Exupéry was a valiant author, an adventurous aviator, and an innovative thinker. His legacy lives on in the hearts of readers around the world, and his books have endured long after the tragedy of his disappearance. He will always be remembered for his thought-provoking stories, touching poems, and imaginative characters.
