The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint -Exupery
The Little Prince is a book that has been on my 'To Read' list for a long time, although I never seemed to pay any attention to it. Until my last visit to Liverpool Central Library when it caught my eye in the form of a 'Collector's Library' tiny hardback. With top-edge gold gilt and ribbon page marker, who could turn down this perfect cloth bound treasure?
First published in 1943, this short story was voted the best book in France in the 20th Century. it has also proved itself to be one of the best selling books ever published.
I gave this book 3* on goodreads,com, but now it is a fortnight since I finished it and I feel I may have rated it harshly.
This is why...
This gem of a book is brimming with charming, heart warming watercolour illustrations by the Author himself. It comes as a tender, poetic tale of loneliness, friendship, love and loss. As I have found personally, the story takes a while to leave your system due to it's philosophical nature and social criticism remarking on the adult world.
The Little Prince draws upon Antoine de Saint-Exupery's personal aviation experiences in the Sahara Desert. To find out more about the Author, you could read his 1939 memoir, "Wind, Sand and Stars"
Understanding that the Author was in the same position as the pilot in the book, stranded in the desert - it is easy to believe the book is autobiographical in some ways. Many researches also believe that the Prince's petulant, vain rose was inspired by his wife, Consuelo. The Prince's small planet may be inspired by her small home country El Salvador also known as 'The Land of Volcanoes.' Connections can therefore be verified and relations between the author's personal life and experiences, and the Little Prince's are evident.
The fox in this story tells the Prince several important messages. Her are some examples:-
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye"
"It is the time spent on your rose that makes your rose so important."
"Because you wasted so much time on me, you made me feel very important."
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| The Fox |
The Fox's messages are arguably the book's most famous quotations as they deal with human relationships. The fox talks quite sincerely and I would make the presumption that he is talking about using your gut to make decisions. Often adults have no time and have too much logic to consider their gut feeling, and I believe the character is trying to imprint his knowledge onto the reader, no matter what age - possibly trying to re-ignite the 'gut feeling' in adults reading the story.
The events in the book are unrealistic, however the fantasy works because the logic of the story is based on the imagination of children, rather than the strict realism of adults. Perhaps this is why the book is considered a children's book.
I however, would argue that this book is specifically made for adults, especially those who remember the nostalgia of childhood. People tend to become less creative and imaginative as they grow into Adulthood. Most adults are pre-occupied with things of the little value. This easy-to-read book includes the fox's lessons which the book cushions beneath it's story.
This is a book that can be read by all ages and the story is timeless. It is a book that could become as sentimental as the story within.
Maybe this is the reason I cannot stop thinking about the Little Prince and the Fox and the Pilot. They have etched an image into my mind, one of innocence and maturity, strangely juxtaposed together in a weird and wonderful collaboration.
If I was to re-rate this book I would give it 4*. Let me know if you've read this book and if you have, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Love Charlie Xx
