Little Prince - World Classics Collection (Complete Translation)

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: This book includes three short stories: "The Little Prince," "Night Flight," and "Flight to Arras." "The Little Prince" tells a beautiful yet melancholic story. The pilot "I" is forced to land in the remote Sahara Desert due to a malfunction in his plane. At this moment, a charming and mysterious little boy appears, insistently asking "I" to draw a sheep for him. He is the Little Prince, pure and melancholic, from an unknown asteroid in the solar system. He loves asking questions but never answers others'. Through their conversation, the Little Prince's secrets gradually unfold. He runs away in anger because of his complicated relationship with his beautiful and proud rose. He wanders among the planets, visiting the King, the vain man, the drunkard, the businessman, the lamplighter, and the geographer, and finally lands on Earth, trying to find a way to alleviate his loneliness and pain. The Little Prince befriends the fox and learns the essence of life from him. He decides to return to his rose, but his body is too heavy to take. Thus, he seeks help from a snake that can kill a person in 30 seconds.
"Night Flight" won the French Femina. As night falls, three postal planes take off simultaneously from Paraguay to Buenos Aires, and Rivière, who is in charge of the entire flight, directs them nervously at the airport. The plane piloted by Fabien encounters a severe storm mid-flight, is swept up into the sky over the Atlantic, and eventually runs out of fuel. The story's plot is simple, but its meaning is profound and subtle. It not only celebrates the pioneers of human aviation but also critiques the value of action, as Nobel Prize-winning author Jean-Paul Sartre said in his preface to the book: "Human happiness does not lie in enjoying freedom but in taking responsibility. I am particularly grateful to the author for explaining this truth."
"Flight to Arras" is a work where flying is a recurring theme in Saint-Exupéry's writings. It depicts the author and his comrades executing a dangerous low-altitude reconnaissance mission, recording scenes from his perspective—such as the pastoral landscapes, mountains, enemy planes, burning villages, sniper fire, and displaced refugees—all of which reveal the horrors of war. Through an exploration of a civilization that prioritizes human values, he gains profound insights into the meaning of war, failure, and death. Like Saint-Exupéry's other works, this book is renowned for its magnificent and awe-inspiring scenes, leaving readers breathless and deeply moved.