Tuesday, April 6, 1993

The Little Prince published 50 years ago today

First posted 6/11/2020; updated 7/6/2020.

The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince)

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

First Publication: April 6, 1943


Category: children’s novella


Sales: 142 million

Accolades:

About the Book:

The Little Prince is “the most famous work of French aristocrat, writer, poet, and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.” WK “Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince.” AZ “Translated into 300 languages and dialects,” WK “the novella is one of the most-translated books in the world and has been voted the best book of the 20th century in France.” WK

“After the outbreak of the Second World War, Saint-Exupéry escaped to North America. Despite personal upheavals and failing health, he produced almost half of the writings for which he would be remembered, including a tender tale of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss, in the form of a young prince visiting Earth. An earlier memoir by the author had recounted his aviation experiences in the Sahara Desert, and he is thought to have drawn on those same experiences in The Little Prince.” WK

The book has “capture[d] the hearts of readers of all ages.” AZ “Since its first publication, the novella has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, and opera.” WK


Resources and Related Links:

In July 2018, I became the organizer of the Classic Novels Book Club. Check out the Book Club tab here or Meetup for more information. This is our September 2020 book.