Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a notable French writer and aviator, born into an aristocratic family in 1900. His early life was marked by the death of his father, which led to financial dependence on relatives and significantly influenced his character. Saint-Exupéry's passion for aviation began at age twelve, culminating in his work as a pilot for airmail services in the 1920s and 1930s, where he gained recognition for his contributions to the industry. He faced numerous challenges, including a crash in the Libyan desert, which garnered media attention and solidified his status as a heroic figure.
With the outbreak of World War II, Saint-Exupéry returned to military service, flying reconnaissance missions until he mysteriously disappeared during a flight in 1944. While celebrated for his achievements as a pilot, his literary works are his enduring legacy. His notable books include "Night Flight," "Wind, Sand, and Stars," and his most famous, "The Little Prince," which reflect his experiences in aviation. Saint-Exupéry’s writings not only captured the essence of his life in the sky but also resonated deeply with themes of human experience and connection, earning him recognition as a major literary talent.
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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Writer
- Born: June 29, 1900
- Birthplace: Lyon, France
- Died: July 31, 1944
- Place of death: Near Corsica
Date: Born on June 29, 1900 in Lyons, France; died on July 31, 1944, near Corsica
Definition: The literary voice of early aviation and an inspiration for many would-be fliers.
Significance: Saint-Exupéry, through his writing, reflected the romance and mystery of aviation and promoted flying among his early twentieth century readers.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was the eldest son of a provincial, aristocratic family. His father’s early death in 1904 made the family dependent on relatives. This background shaped Saint-Exupéry’s character to an enormous extent. The commanding French lead in early aviation during his formative years was the primary external influence on his life.
At age twelve, Saint-Exupéry experienced his first airplane flight and began taking flying lessons in 1921. By 1922, he had become a second lieutenant and pilot in the French army reserves. In 1926, he began flying airmail from France to Spain, before the airmail service rapidly expanded into Africa and South America. Becoming an industry legend, Saint-Exupéry was soon in charge of operations, first in Morocco and then in Argentina.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s and events in France caused the collapse of the airmail business in 1932. To support himself financially, Saint-Exupéry turned increasingly to writing, flying only sporadically. He worked briefly as an industrial test pilot and then made an abortive attempt to set a record by flying to Saigon. He crashed in the Libyan desert and walked for four days before encountering a camel caravan. French newspapers made much of the story and its hero. A later goodwill tour of the Americas likewise ended in a crash, this time in Guatemala.
Saint-Exupéry was in the United States when France fell to the Nazis, but he returned to his army reserve position and began flying reconnaissance. His unit was demobilized after Dunkirk (1940), and Saint-Exupéry spent the next three years in New York. When the unit was remobilized in Africa, he was reassigned to it, this time flying the new Lockheed P-38 Lightnings in reconnaissance. With the successes of the Allied landings at Normandy on D day, June 6, 1944, operations moved to Corsica, and it was from Corsica that Saint-Exupéry made his last flight. The Cape Corse radar tracked him into southern France but never spotted his return. Nothing more is known of his death.
Saint-Exupéry was much more than a pilot. He held several patents for aviation improvements, but his writings are remembered as his main achievements. His first book, Courrier sud (1929; Southern Mail, 1933) was published just before he went to Argentina. It was followed by Vol de nuit (1931; Night Flight, 1932) and Terre des hommes (1939; Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939). These two books won major prizes and a reputation for their author as a major literary talent. Pilote de guerre (1942; Flight to Arras, 1942) and Le petite prince (1943; The Little Prince, 1943), probably his best-known work, followed. All but the last drew heavily on tales from his life as a pilot. Vol de nuit proved to be a major factor in recruitment for the French air force early in the war.
Bibliography
Cate, Curtis. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: His Life and Times. New York: Paragon House, 1990. A compendious but not always well-documented biography.
Robinson, Joy D. M. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Boston: Twayne, 1984. A short biography focused on Saint-Exupéry’s writing.
Shiff, Stacey. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994. A detailed biography.