Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine de Saint Exupery is widely known as one of the greatest authors of all time. His works are widely varied in format, language and genre, but they all have one underlying feature – they are all deeply philosophical. His stories and novels revolve around the themes of life, love, betrayal, friendship, and faith. He is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern literature, and he is one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Born in Lyon, France in 1900, Antoine de Saint Exupery was the oldest of five children. His father was an army officer, and his mother was a homemaker. His upbringing was strict, but he shared a close relationship with his siblings. He developed his love for writing early on, writing stories and poetry in his closet when he was seven years old. Despite his dreams of becoming a writer, he adhered to his father’s wishes and studied engineering at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

However, the call of the skies was too strong for him to ignore, and at the age of 21, he obtained his pilot’s license. He quickly rose through the ranks of the French Air Force, becoming a commanding officer and instructor. During this time, he also wrote his first book, Southern mail, which was published in 1929. In the book, he described his experiences as a pilot in the South American jungle. The book was successful, and his writing career was officially born.

During his time in the French Air Force, he wrote the famous novella, The Little Prince, which was published in 1943 and instantly became a classic. The story, which is narrated by a pilot, chronicles the adventures of the titular character as he travels from planet-to-planet meeting various interesting creatures and learning about the world. It is widely regarded as one of the most important works of literature of the 20th century.

After the publication of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupery wrote Flight to Arras and Wind, Sand and Stars, two more novels which discussed the themes of friendship and heroism. During the Second World War, he served in the Free French Air Force in the North African campaign, and he was awarded several medals for his bravery. From 1945 to 1948, he worked as an editor in the book publishing industry, while continuing to write in his spare time.

In 1947, he published his magnum opus, the novel Citadelle. This is a semi-autobiographical work, in which the author examines the meaning of life in all its complexity. He composed the story during a time of great uncertainty in his life, after having lost his wife to cancer. He also wrote two poetry collections during this period.

In 1954, Antoine de Saint Exupery was forced to retire from the French Air Force due to medical problems. He returned to his parents’ home in Paris and dedicated himself to writing. Unfortunately, his body was already breaking down and he died in a plane crash on July 31 that year, while searching for the lost members of another mission.

Saint Exupery’s works stand out for their philosophical and artistic qualities. He was an innovator who was ahead of his time, and his works are full of vivid imagery, symbolism, and profound insight into the human condition. His books are considered some of the most important works of literature of the 20th century, and his legacy continues to resonate to this day.