The Little Prince (Book)

The Little Prince is the work published by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943 in USA in both French and English. Today it is regarded as one of the most translated story books in the world, available in 488 different languages and dialects.

The story begins with a pilot’s plane crashing in the Desert Desert, leading to his encounter with a small child from another planet. Through the Little Prince’s journey away from his own planet and his visits to various celestial bodies, during which he meets a range of characters, the book invites reflection on individual life, relationships and human nature. The narrative of the Little Prince critically examines the contradictions, habits and meaning pursuits of the adult world.

It was first published in 1943 in the United States in both French and English. In France, it could not be published in the same year due to Nazi occupation during the Second World World War. After the author’s death it was printed in France and gradually became one of the most renowned works of French literature.

Although the book employs a simple language, the concepts it contains are universal and multi-layered. While its structure follows a fairy tale format, its content embodies a philosophical inquiry. The hand-drawn illustrations in the book are also by the author himself and are considered an integral part of the narrative.

• Loneliness and friendship
• Love and responsibility
• The difference in perception between childhood and adulthood
• The search for meaning
• Critical thinking and individual awareness

• The Little Prince: A child who leaves his own planet to explore other worlds.
• The Pilot (Narrator): The protagonist whose plane crashes in the desert and who meets the Little Prince.
• The Rose: The being left behind by the Little Prince on his planet, to whom he develops an attachment.
• The Fox: The figure through whom the Little Prince learns the concepts of “taming” and “responsibility”.
• The King, the Vain Man, the Drunkard, the Businessman, the Lamplighter, the Geographer: Adult figures encountered by the Little Prince during his planetary visits.

The Little Prince is one of the rare works that can be read and appreciated by both children and adults. It has been translated into numerous languages worldwide and reached a vast readership. Its symbolic narrative allows the book to be interpreted in diverse ways at both individual and societal levels.