but they are not the same things for different people. All men have the stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. But all these stars are silent. You, you alone will have the stars as no one else has them.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

Life’s Lessons: From a Child’s Perspective An Exploration of Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry By Michelle Mercure (Halette)

“ He left permanent wounds in the hearts of those who saw him smile, - Antoine Jean-Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint-Exupéry (his name in full, believe it or not) lived from June 29, 1900 – July 31, 1944. - His interest in flying was made apparent early on in his life. Once as a small child after attaching wings to a bicycle he shouted joyously, “ When I fly away on my new machine, the whole crowd will shout, long live Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.” In a sense he was right for he later became a famous aviator. - He was born in Lyons, France at the turn of the century into an old aristocratic family. - His career in aviation is what gave him inspiration to begin a career in writing, which he is also famous for. “ He left permanent wounds in the hearts of those who saw him smile, even once.” - Although Antoine is famous for his career as a French aviator and writer, it is the fact that he never lost his boyhood innocence which makes him so unique.

“Grown ups never understand anything for themselves, “Grandi augmente ne jamais comprendre n’importe quoi pour se, et c’est ennuyeux pour les enfants pour être toujours et forevor expliquant des choses à eux.” “Grown ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

The Castle of Saint-Maurice de Rémens - Antoine came from an old aristocratic family, his father, Jean de Saint-Exupéry, from Limousin, being a descendant of a French Knight from the 13th Century, named Raymond de Saint-Exupéry, and his mother, Marie de Fonscolombe, from Provence, of the Boyer de Fonscolombe. Antoine’s mother brought him and his four siblings here a few years after their father died of a stroke in 1904. Perhaps it was the childhood years Antoine spent at this castle that gave him the ability to hold onto his boyhood innocence, even as an adult.

Marie-Madeline, Gabrielle, François, Antoine, Simone - Antoine and his siblings lived a fairytale existence at the castle of Rémens, filling their days by playing with animals and insects, building mechanical inventions, and by pretending to be living in a kingdom (not a hard task considering the scenery of the magnificent castle surrounded by a huge park of golden trees). - Antoine’s mother exposed her five children to the arts from a young age, introducing them to poetry, art, music and literature. She herself was a singer, guitarist, and a painter, and she hoped to inspire each of her children to explore their own individual creativeness. - Because of Antoine’s blond locks and the children’s imaginary kingdom he, fittingly, was given the nickname “Le Roi-Soleil” (The Sun-King).

“It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. “C’est beaucoup plus difficile à soi-même juger que juger des autres. Si vous arrivez à juger vous correctement, alors vous êtes en effect homme de vraie sagesse.” “It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

- He and his younger brother, François, were entered into this school after their mother moved them from Lyons to Le Mans (which is found in Northern France). - This transition, after being home schooled for most of his childhood, turned out to be a difficult one for him. - He was classified as an untidy, daydreaming student with an utter lack of concentration. - Antoine received his first form of discipline at Notre Dame Saint-Croix, a school that his father once attended. - After his brother dies of rheumatic fever, Antoine goes home to comfort his sisters. - Then he travels to Paris to study to join the Naval Academy in hopes of pursuing his dream of flying. Antoine’s Education From there he and his brother were sent to a school in Fribourg, Switzerland, where they both were much happier. The school’s motto was de toute son ãme (with all one’s soul). - After failing the oral part of the exam and exceeding the age limit to retake the test, Antoine finds himself lost.

“I never loved my house more than when I lived in the desert.” - He was made commander of an airport at Cape Juby in the Sahara. - This setting of a desert is used as the background for his books Wisdom of the Sands and Le Petit Prince. - After the fall of France in World War II, in 1935 he joins the army and makes several daring flights “I never loved my house more than when I lived in the desert.” He joined the French Air Force in Stratsbourg in 1921 as a mechanic which would be his first step towards his ultimate goal of flying. Aviation - Antoine’s first time flying was when he was 12 (just four years after the Wright brothers launched flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. - Soon after he began his training to fly and at the young age of 26 he fulfilled a life long dream, when became a pilot.

- A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince “Personne jamais est satisfait où il est.” “No one is ever satisfied where he is.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

Antoine’s Various Careers Truck Salesperson Publicity Agent Magazine Writer Airport Commander Aviator Writer Lecturer Foreign Correspondent Flight Instructor Tile Manufacturer

‘One runs the risk of weeping a little, if one lets himself be tamed.” “l’un risque de pleurant un petit, si l’un se permis d’est apprivoisé.” ‘One runs the risk of weeping a little, if one lets himself be tamed.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

Consuelo Gomez Carillo - She can be seen in the vain, demanding character of the rose in Le Petit Prince. - Their marriage was stormy, for she felt neglected by Antoine. Antoine married Consuelo in 1933. Consuelo Gomez Carillo - They lived apart for several periods of time, in addition to those occasioned by the war.

“Forget that I am ashamed?” “What are you doing?” “I’m drinking.” “Why are you drinking?” “So that I may forget.” “Forget what?” “Forget that I am ashamed?” “Ashamed of what?” “Ashamed of drinking!” It is amazing how the curious questions of a child can capture the stupidity of adult reasoning, as depicted in this scene from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince. - This theme is explored throughout Le Petit Prince, where Antoine expresses complicated messages in a simplistic manner.

Le Petit Prince The Little Prince

- Antoine wrote it while living in the United States, and it was published in 1943, just one year before his unfortunate death. - The book has been translated into over 150 languages. - The Little Prince is a children’s tale meant for adults to read - It is usually the first book that beginners of the French language read. - Antoine not only wrote the book, he illustrated it also - The Little Prince is said to be the third read book after the Holy Bible and the Koran.

“It is a lonely in the desert. It is also lonely among men.” - A quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince

- Antoine disappeared on July 31, 1944 - He had taken off that morning from an airfield in Sardina to photograph German troop positions in the French Alps. It remains a mystery as to what happened to Antoine on that day; as to whether his plane was shot down, or it had mechanical problems, or whether he committed suicide. Perhaps we will never know the truth as to how he died, but nothing can stop us from learning how he lived. - The remains of Antoine’s Lockheed P-38 were found in the Mediterranean Sea 60 years after he crashed there.

I think I must have lost you while deep in slumber. Innocence Innocence, Where have you gone? I think I must have lost you while deep in slumber. How quickly you did fade. Or, I wonder Are you still here with me? Buried deep inside. That is what I shall believe. That I still have you, That you are a part of me, And I a part of you. By Michelle Mercure (Halette)

The END