You could be excused for thinking that this book is one containing a simple story for young children about a Little Prince. How wrong you would be! This is far from the truth: it is much more. It is a complex story containing lots of ambiguities about a child with golden hair. These are all eruditely discussed before the actual story begins, in a section entitled "How It All Began". "Is The Little Prince a story written for children or is it a meditation intended for adults?"

The Art of Living is discussed, along with a system of values, and the train of thought behind them is the unifying element. You are invited to "look at the book, and allow yourself to travel from one image to the next... " It was written and published more than 50 years ago in the USA, and the author was a Frenchman who illustrated the book himself; it was later translated by Kathryn Woods. The Little Prince is still very popular and has now been translated into many languages. Shortly after it was first written, the author died--disappearing together with his plane somewhere over the Mediterranean. This Gift edition contains all the original illustrations, plus some more original drawings that came to light later and have been published here for the first time.--Susan Naylor

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

You could be excused for thinking that this book is one containing a simple story for young children about a Little Prince. How wrong you would be! This is far from the truth: it is much more. It is a complex story containing lots of ambiguities about a child with golden hair. These are all eruditely discussed before the actual story begins, in a section entitled "How It All Began". "Is The Little Prince a story written for children or is it a meditation intended for adults?"

The Art of Living is discussed, along with a system of values, and the train of thought behind them is the unifying element. You are invited to "look at the book, and allow yourself to travel from one image to the next... " It was written and published more than 50 years ago in the USA, and the author was a Frenchman who illustrated the book himself; it was later translated by Kathryn Woods. The Little Prince is still very popular and has now been translated into many languages. Shortly after it was first written, the author died--disappearing together with his plane somewhere over the Mediterranean. This Gift edition contains all the original illustrations, plus some more original drawings that came to light later and have been published here for the first time.--Susan Naylor

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

philosophy for children (and adults), 17 Jun 2003
I first read this in French for A level, forty years ago. I bought a copy in English, which has disappeared, and I rediscovered it in my local "tabac" about a year ago. It is a wonderful book, which every adult with average intelligence should read at least once in their lifetime.
The world from the perspective of the little prince is revealed in a way which is charming but not at all sentimental, and very thought-provoking if one allows oneself to be challenged.
I'm not saying any more than that - buy the book and discover it for yourself!

Amusing and relaxing., 09 May 2003
A good read, and although this is a book designed for chidren, it can be read with as much glee, though probably more, by adults. About a boy from a tiny planet, near Earth, who comes to earth to find a way to save his pet flower, and best friend, the book's flippancy and genial nature make The Little Prince an extremely relieving read; like a breath of fresh air. It is wonderfully written, very short, and contains stimulating ideas.
It is almost moving in its naivety. A must read, though I warn you, not too much like the author's other works, which are aimed at a different audience (though they are also very good books!).

an exciting and anticipating novel which should be read!, 02 May 2002
Based on real life pilots during the 1930's, this book descibes how pilots at the time struggled against forces of nature and also solitude to complete the task of delivering mail on time.Saint-Exupery's use of phiosophical and poetic language creates a tense and anxious atmosphere, but also excitement as we are left wondering if Fabien(the pilot) will overcome obstacles in his way. A fantastically magnificent written novel and a very worthwhile read.

Life-changing book, 25 Feb 2001
This isn't just a book... it's very hard to describe.. It's a phenomenon. The story spans all generations - while the colourful characters may superficially please the younger audience, the timeless imagery, symbolism and observations of humanity can teach all but the most obtuse. Having said that, there are people who just don't 'get' this book. They want to know why such and such happens, or what the point of this bit was - if you ask the question, you're just not the sort of person who will ever appreciate this story. I have studied English Literature, and Theatre Studies, and have ploughed through all the literary 'greats', and I can say with my hand on my heart that no book I have ever read has even come close to the feeling of 'Le Petit Prince'. Please, please read it.

A well written book, 15 Jan 2001
This book is excellent if you are doing French GCSE as it is quite easy to understand. The story contains some funny humour.

You could be excused for thinking that this book is one containing a simple story for young children about a Little Prince. How wrong you would be! This is far from the truth: it is much more. It is a complex story containing lots of ambiguities about a child with golden hair. These are all eruditely discussed before the actual story begins, in a section entitled "How It All Began". "Is The Little Prince a story written for children or is it a meditation intended for adults?"

The Art of Living is discussed, along with a system of values, and the train of thought behind them is the unifying element. You are invited to "look at the book, and allow yourself to travel from one image to the next... " It was written and published more than 50 years ago in the USA, and the author was a Frenchman who illustrated the book himself; it was later translated by Kathryn Woods. The Little Prince is still very popular and has now been translated into many languages. Shortly after it was first written, the author died--disappearing together with his plane somewhere over the Mediterranean. This Gift edition contains all the original illustrations, plus some more original drawings that came to light later and have been published here for the first time.--Susan Naylor

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

philosophy for children (and adults), 17 Jun 2003
I first read this in French for A level, forty years ago. I bought a copy in English, which has disappeared, and I rediscovered it in my local "tabac" about a year ago. It is a wonderful book, which every adult with average intelligence should read at least once in their lifetime.
The world from the perspective of the little prince is revealed in a way which is charming but not at all sentimental, and very thought-provoking if one allows oneself to be challenged.
I'm not saying any more than that - buy the book and discover it for yourself!

Amusing and relaxing., 09 May 2003
A good read, and although this is a book designed for chidren, it can be read with as much glee, though probably more, by adults. About a boy from a tiny planet, near Earth, who comes to earth to find a way to save his pet flower, and best friend, the book's flippancy and genial nature make The Little Prince an extremely relieving read; like a breath of fresh air. It is wonderfully written, very short, and contains stimulating ideas.
It is almost moving in its naivety. A must read, though I warn you, not too much like the author's other works, which are aimed at a different audience (though they are also very good books!).

an exciting and anticipating novel which should be read!, 02 May 2002
Based on real life pilots during the 1930's, this book descibes how pilots at the time struggled against forces of nature and also solitude to complete the task of delivering mail on time.Saint-Exupery's use of phiosophical and poetic language creates a tense and anxious atmosphere, but also excitement as we are left wondering if Fabien(the pilot) will overcome obstacles in his way. A fantastically magnificent written novel and a very worthwhile read.

Life-changing book, 25 Feb 2001
This isn't just a book... it's very hard to describe.. It's a phenomenon. The story spans all generations - while the colourful characters may superficially please the younger audience, the timeless imagery, symbolism and observations of humanity can teach all but the most obtuse. Having said that, there are people who just don't 'get' this book. They want to know why such and such happens, or what the point of this bit was - if you ask the question, you're just not the sort of person who will ever appreciate this story. I have studied English Literature, and Theatre Studies, and have ploughed through all the literary 'greats', and I can say with my hand on my heart that no book I have ever read has even come close to the feeling of 'Le Petit Prince'. Please, please read it.

A well written book, 15 Jan 2001
This book is excellent if you are doing French GCSE as it is quite easy to understand. The story contains some funny humour.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

philosophy for children (and adults), 17 Jun 2003
I first read this in French for A level, forty years ago. I bought a copy in English, which has disappeared, and I rediscovered it in my local "tabac" about a year ago. It is a wonderful book, which every adult with average intelligence should read at least once in their lifetime.
The world from the perspective of the little prince is revealed in a way which is charming but not at all sentimental, and very thought-provoking if one allows oneself to be challenged.
I'm not saying any more than that - buy the book and discover it for yourself!

Amusing and relaxing., 09 May 2003
A good read, and although this is a book designed for chidren, it can be read with as much glee, though probably more, by adults. About a boy from a tiny planet, near Earth, who comes to earth to find a way to save his pet flower, and best friend, the book's flippancy and genial nature make The Little Prince an extremely relieving read; like a breath of fresh air. It is wonderfully written, very short, and contains stimulating ideas.
It is almost moving in its naivety. A must read, though I warn you, not too much like the author's other works, which are aimed at a different audience (though they are also very good books!).

an exciting and anticipating novel which should be read!, 02 May 2002
Based on real life pilots during the 1930's, this book descibes how pilots at the time struggled against forces of nature and also solitude to complete the task of delivering mail on time.Saint-Exupery's use of phiosophical and poetic language creates a tense and anxious atmosphere, but also excitement as we are left wondering if Fabien(the pilot) will overcome obstacles in his way. A fantastically magnificent written novel and a very worthwhile read.

Life-changing book, 25 Feb 2001
This isn't just a book... it's very hard to describe.. It's a phenomenon. The story spans all generations - while the colourful characters may superficially please the younger audience, the timeless imagery, symbolism and observations of humanity can teach all but the most obtuse. Having said that, there are people who just don't 'get' this book. They want to know why such and such happens, or what the point of this bit was - if you ask the question, you're just not the sort of person who will ever appreciate this story. I have studied English Literature, and Theatre Studies, and have ploughed through all the literary 'greats', and I can say with my hand on my heart that no book I have ever read has even come close to the feeling of 'Le Petit Prince'. Please, please read it.

A well written book, 15 Jan 2001
This book is excellent if you are doing French GCSE as it is quite easy to understand. The story contains some funny humour.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

Very evocative, but watch the translation..., 03 Dec 2007
I assume Saint-Exupery wrote this in French and that explains the trouble I had starting this book.

10 pages in I seriously considered giving up on this book, so convoluted, flowery and stodgy was the prose, something I have done with less than 5 books ever.

That I didn't and give the book 4 stars is testament to chapter two and beyond, but be aware that you might have to persevere to get to the greatness of this book.

This MIGHT be down to translation into English and some versions may be easier to read than others.

The episode of the crash in the desert is a page turning thriller, though, and his experiences in Spain during the civil war are a diverting counterpoint to the rest of the book.

A great read, if you can get into it.

Just get it now stop messing around :), 18 Jan 2006
With this book you will take away more than the sum of its words. I think I will read this again and again and hopefully pass it on to at least one person.

Fabulous, 06 Oct 2005
Quite short, but written so well it more than makes up for quantity. Hugely recomended.

Crash landing in the Sahara desert...profound insight..., 18 Apr 2001
I know a man who sees beauty in everything around him - the expression on people's faces, the way the wind blows things round, in smells and everywhere else. For him too, "Wind, Sand and Stars" has been a guide his whole life.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was one of the pioneers of flying aeroplanes, first with Aeropostale between France and Northern Africa, and later trans-Atlantic flights from South America. This book is a collection of wonderful tales and deep insights from that life.

In his time, aeroplane engines were far from reliable, and his experiences of crash landing in the Sahara desert, or the Chilean Andes, are astounding. Face to face with life and death, his mind has given birth to the most beautiful paragraphs of enlightened prose I have read.

[I am uncomfortable with the translation of William Rees. Maybe it is because I had read first an earlier translation by Lewis Galantiere (now unavailable). Galantiere had convinced de Saint-Exupery to include passages in the English version that had been left out of the French, and a few other changes. Maybe it is merely "familiarity breeds contempt", but I feel the Rees translation to be inferior. ]{****NOTE to AMAZON: this paragraph may be unsuitable as it refers to another edition.}

This book is my bible. The tenderness and beauty of his observations and view of what is essential is special. Fiercely exciting descriptive passages are blended perfectly with reflections and wisdom. This is my No.1 book of all time.

Aviator, Poet & Philosopher, 22 Apr 1998
Saint-Exupery disappeared in North Africa in 1943 while flying reconnaissance flights for the American forces. After reading Wind, Sand and Stars one has a sense that this writer/philosopher, who is probably most well known for his fable The Little Prince, was well prepared for his life to end in this way.

In the opening lines of the original French version Saint-Exupery writes:
"The earth teaches us more about ourselves than all the books.
Because it resists us. Man discovers himself when he measures
himself against the obstacle"

Wind, Sand and Stars is intensely autobiographical as it tells us of this man's adventures from his beginnings as a pilot with the air mail service over France, Spain and North Africa before World War I, through to his musings as an observer of the Spanish Civil War. But far more than an adventurer, Saint-Exupery writes like a poet and has the heart of a philosopher. This wonderful book (a credit to the translator from the original French) has incredibly rich descriptive passages in which he lays out for the reader the details observed in the natural world and the response that these evoke in his mind, heart and soul.

In one section of the book (which a reader familiar with The Little Prince cannot help but conclude was inspirational for that work) Saint-Exupery describes at length his near-death experience after crashing in the Libyan desert, and wandering for days without water or hope:
"Apart from your suffering, I have no regrets. All in all, it has been
a good life. If I got free of this I should start right in again. A man
cannot live a decent life in cities, and I need to feel myself live. I
am not thinking of aviation. The aeroplane is a means, not an end.
One doesn't risk one's life for a plane any more than a farmer ploughs
for the sake of the plough. But the aeroplane is a means of getting
away from towns and their book-keeping and coming to grips with
reality."

Wind, Sand and Stars is not an easy read. But for those with patience and an interest (in a phrase from The Little Prince) in "listening with the heart", here is an insight to one man's struggle to understand and articulate the sacredness and greatness of human life.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

philosophy for children (and adults), 17 Jun 2003
I first read this in French for A level, forty years ago. I bought a copy in English, which has disappeared, and I rediscovered it in my local "tabac" about a year ago. It is a wonderful book, which every adult with average intelligence should read at least once in their lifetime.
The world from the perspective of the little prince is revealed in a way which is charming but not at all sentimental, and very thought-provoking if one allows oneself to be challenged.
I'm not saying any more than that - buy the book and discover it for yourself!

Amusing and relaxing., 09 May 2003
A good read, and although this is a book designed for chidren, it can be read with as much glee, though probably more, by adults. About a boy from a tiny planet, near Earth, who comes to earth to find a way to save his pet flower, and best friend, the book's flippancy and genial nature make The Little Prince an extremely relieving read; like a breath of fresh air. It is wonderfully written, very short, and contains stimulating ideas.
It is almost moving in its naivety. A must read, though I warn you, not too much like the author's other works, which are aimed at a different audience (though they are also very good books!).

an exciting and anticipating novel which should be read!, 02 May 2002
Based on real life pilots during the 1930's, this book descibes how pilots at the time struggled against forces of nature and also solitude to complete the task of delivering mail on time.Saint-Exupery's use of phiosophical and poetic language creates a tense and anxious atmosphere, but also excitement as we are left wondering if Fabien(the pilot) will overcome obstacles in his way. A fantastically magnificent written novel and a very worthwhile read.

Life-changing book, 25 Feb 2001
This isn't just a book... it's very hard to describe.. It's a phenomenon. The story spans all generations - while the colourful characters may superficially please the younger audience, the timeless imagery, symbolism and observations of humanity can teach all but the most obtuse. Having said that, there are people who just don't 'get' this book. They want to know why such and such happens, or what the point of this bit was - if you ask the question, you're just not the sort of person who will ever appreciate this story. I have studied English Literature, and Theatre Studies, and have ploughed through all the literary 'greats', and I can say with my hand on my heart that no book I have ever read has even come close to the feeling of 'Le Petit Prince'. Please, please read it.

A well written book, 15 Jan 2001
This book is excellent if you are doing French GCSE as it is quite easy to understand. The story contains some funny humour.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

Very evocative, but watch the translation..., 03 Dec 2007
I assume Saint-Exupery wrote this in French and that explains the trouble I had starting this book.

10 pages in I seriously considered giving up on this book, so convoluted, flowery and stodgy was the prose, something I have done with less than 5 books ever.

That I didn't and give the book 4 stars is testament to chapter two and beyond, but be aware that you might have to persevere to get to the greatness of this book.

This MIGHT be down to translation into English and some versions may be easier to read than others.

The episode of the crash in the desert is a page turning thriller, though, and his experiences in Spain during the civil war are a diverting counterpoint to the rest of the book.

A great read, if you can get into it.

Just get it now stop messing around :), 18 Jan 2006
With this book you will take away more than the sum of its words. I think I will read this again and again and hopefully pass it on to at least one person.

Fabulous, 06 Oct 2005
Quite short, but written so well it more than makes up for quantity. Hugely recomended.

Crash landing in the Sahara desert...profound insight..., 18 Apr 2001
I know a man who sees beauty in everything around him - the expression on people's faces, the way the wind blows things round, in smells and everywhere else. For him too, "Wind, Sand and Stars" has been a guide his whole life.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was one of the pioneers of flying aeroplanes, first with Aeropostale between France and Northern Africa, and later trans-Atlantic flights from South America. This book is a collection of wonderful tales and deep insights from that life.

In his time, aeroplane engines were far from reliable, and his experiences of crash landing in the Sahara desert, or the Chilean Andes, are astounding. Face to face with life and death, his mind has given birth to the most beautiful paragraphs of enlightened prose I have read.

[I am uncomfortable with the translation of William Rees. Maybe it is because I had read first an earlier translation by Lewis Galantiere (now unavailable). Galantiere had convinced de Saint-Exupery to include passages in the English version that had been left out of the French, and a few other changes. Maybe it is merely "familiarity breeds contempt", but I feel the Rees translation to be inferior. ]{****NOTE to AMAZON: this paragraph may be unsuitable as it refers to another edition.}

This book is my bible. The tenderness and beauty of his observations and view of what is essential is special. Fiercely exciting descriptive passages are blended perfectly with reflections and wisdom. This is my No.1 book of all time.

Aviator, Poet & Philosopher, 22 Apr 1998
Saint-Exupery disappeared in North Africa in 1943 while flying reconnaissance flights for the American forces. After reading Wind, Sand and Stars one has a sense that this writer/philosopher, who is probably most well known for his fable The Little Prince, was well prepared for his life to end in this way.

In the opening lines of the original French version Saint-Exupery writes:
"The earth teaches us more about ourselves than all the books.
Because it resists us. Man discovers himself when he measures
himself against the obstacle"

Wind, Sand and Stars is intensely autobiographical as it tells us of this man's adventures from his beginnings as a pilot with the air mail service over France, Spain and North Africa before World War I, through to his musings as an observer of the Spanish Civil War. But far more than an adventurer, Saint-Exupery writes like a poet and has the heart of a philosopher. This wonderful book (a credit to the translator from the original French) has incredibly rich descriptive passages in which he lays out for the reader the details observed in the natural world and the response that these evoke in his mind, heart and soul.

In one section of the book (which a reader familiar with The Little Prince cannot help but conclude was inspirational for that work) Saint-Exupery describes at length his near-death experience after crashing in the Libyan desert, and wandering for days without water or hope:
"Apart from your suffering, I have no regrets. All in all, it has been
a good life. If I got free of this I should start right in again. A man
cannot live a decent life in cities, and I need to feel myself live. I
am not thinking of aviation. The aeroplane is a means, not an end.
One doesn't risk one's life for a plane any more than a farmer ploughs
for the sake of the plough. But the aeroplane is a means of getting
away from towns and their book-keeping and coming to grips with
reality."

Wind, Sand and Stars is not an easy read. But for those with patience and an interest (in a phrase from The Little Prince) in "listening with the heart", here is an insight to one man's struggle to understand and articulate the sacredness and greatness of human life.

Drawing a sheep, in Latin, 13 Jul 2004
'The Little Prince' is a wonderful story, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), a French writer who also worked to fight the Germans during World War II. The publication story of 'The Little Prince' is an adventure in-and-of itself, as it happened at the height of the war, and just a year prior to Saint-Exupéry disappearance over the Mediterranean while flying a mission with his French air squadron. Saint-Exupéry wrote several books, and illustrated them himself, but 'The Little Prince', about the visitor from outer space not so different from us, but perplexed by our ways, and homesick for his home, touches people to this day in profound ways, making this classic an enduring one.

Translated into Latin, this enigmatic classic becomes even more mysterious, yet (for those who know Latin) still a touching and moving story. Books such as 'The Little Prince' translated into Latin make wonderful tools for learning the language. The book here is translated by Richard Howard, a Pulitzer-Prize winning author, who has more than 150 translation titles to his name. Saint-Exupéry's original artwork is incorporated here, in the proper placement according to the French original. They are in full colour throughout the book.

The language here is basic -- Saint-Exupéry wrote 'The Little Prince' both as a children's book and an adult's book, hence the vocabulary and basic writing, in any language, is fairly simple, another way in which the Latin translation, kept to an easy construction by Howard, helps in the learning of the foreign language.

A great book, one to let out of the box.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

philosophy for children (and adults), 17 Jun 2003
I first read this in French for A level, forty years ago. I bought a copy in English, which has disappeared, and I rediscovered it in my local "tabac" about a year ago. It is a wonderful book, which every adult with average intelligence should read at least once in their lifetime.
The world from the perspective of the little prince is revealed in a way which is charming but not at all sentimental, and very thought-provoking if one allows oneself to be challenged.
I'm not saying any more than that - buy the book and discover it for yourself!

Amusing and relaxing., 09 May 2003
A good read, and although this is a book designed for chidren, it can be read with as much glee, though probably more, by adults. About a boy from a tiny planet, near Earth, who comes to earth to find a way to save his pet flower, and best friend, the book's flippancy and genial nature make The Little Prince an extremely relieving read; like a breath of fresh air. It is wonderfully written, very short, and contains stimulating ideas.
It is almost moving in its naivety. A must read, though I warn you, not too much like the author's other works, which are aimed at a different audience (though they are also very good books!).

an exciting and anticipating novel which should be read!, 02 May 2002
Based on real life pilots during the 1930's, this book descibes how pilots at the time struggled against forces of nature and also solitude to complete the task of delivering mail on time.Saint-Exupery's use of phiosophical and poetic language creates a tense and anxious atmosphere, but also excitement as we are left wondering if Fabien(the pilot) will overcome obstacles in his way. A fantastically magnificent written novel and a very worthwhile read.

Life-changing book, 25 Feb 2001
This isn't just a book... it's very hard to describe.. It's a phenomenon. The story spans all generations - while the colourful characters may superficially please the younger audience, the timeless imagery, symbolism and observations of humanity can teach all but the most obtuse. Having said that, there are people who just don't 'get' this book. They want to know why such and such happens, or what the point of this bit was - if you ask the question, you're just not the sort of person who will ever appreciate this story. I have studied English Literature, and Theatre Studies, and have ploughed through all the literary 'greats', and I can say with my hand on my heart that no book I have ever read has even come close to the feeling of 'Le Petit Prince'. Please, please read it.

A well written book, 15 Jan 2001
This book is excellent if you are doing French GCSE as it is quite easy to understand. The story contains some funny humour.

almost poetry, 02 Jun 2008
Anyone who would say this book could only be enjoyed by children are utterly wrong. I'm not a child and i thought it was a beautifully written and inspiring story. It tells the tale of the little prince who wishes to explore another planet as he has always lived on his own (apart from his friend the rose). I won't go into the plot too much because to be honest it was a while ago that i read it and i wouldn't want to get it wrong, but one chapter in particular that i remember being quite touching is when the little prince talks about his friendship with a fox. The book is almost poetic, and at times i found it quite sad, but i would reccommend it to anyone, no matter what age.

fine fine book, 31 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this book tremendously. I think the latest news report about the German pilot who claims he shot down Saint-Exupery is going to make the interest in his work, and especially this book shoot back up in the charts!

Brill Book, 16 Mar 2008
`The Little Prince' is a true classic tale. It is very well-known and very well-loved. This is the complete and unabridged book written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Here is the plot of the story: the boy in this story lives on a planet on his own, so he visited some other planets. A king inhabited the first planet. He looked very majestic. He sat on a beautiful throne and had a curiosity for yawning - he ordered the little prince to yawn! On the second planet, there lived a proud man who called our main character in this book, an admirer! A drunkard was who lived on the third planet; the prince stayed only for a short while and he was very sad indeed! The fourth planet belonged to a businessperson - a very, very, very busy one as well. The fifth planet was tiny! It was so small; it only fitted a lamppost and a lamppost lighter! The sixth planet was much larger and an old man occupied it who was a geographer. And the seventh planet was very unlike the rest - it was Earth...
I really liked this book and would positively rate it 9/ 10. I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the need of a very good read.

one of the greatest books ever written, destroyed by bad translation, 23 Aug 2007
I originally read this book in the katherine woods translation and feel in love. I bought this new translation as a gift for a friend however, after noticing it was different, I read it. What a monstrousity of a translation! I suppose the translator was attempting to "modernize" the speech but in reality they simply dumbed down the content. This translation has lost the beautiful poetic flow of the katherine woods translation. It is like an entirely different book. Why publishers felt the need to fix something that was never broken is beyond me.
I was so disgusted, I threw away this translation and searched for the original at a used book shop.

The best book in the world, 17 Jun 2007
I have just scanned through several of the other reviews, and they all give this novel five stars, apart from one, but that is due to the translation.

I read this book first in English, and then later obtained a copy from France, and I have to say that it flows so much better in its original language.

I re-read this book periodically, and it never fails to break my heart. So profound and poignant, it is certainly deserving of a place in so many people's classic list.

Very evocative, but watch the translation..., 03 Dec 2007
I assume Saint-Exupery wrote this in French and that explains the trouble I had starting this book.

10 pages in I seriously considered giving up on this book, so convoluted, flowery and stodgy was the prose, something I have done with less than 5 books ever.

That I didn't and give the book 4 stars is testament to chapter two and beyond, but be aware that you might have to persevere to get to the greatness of this book.

This MIGHT be down to translation into English and some versions may be easier to read than others.

The episode of the crash in the desert is a page turning thriller, though, and his experiences in Spain during the civil war are a diverting counterpoint to the rest of the book.

A great read, if you can get into it.

Just get