The Little Prince
The Little Prince is a 1943 novella by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, first published in French as Le Petit Prince with the author’s own illustrations.
The Little Prince is a 1943 novella by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, first published in French as Le Petit Prince with the author’s own illustrations. It is a philosophical fable about a pilot and a young prince who travels from planet to planet, and it is widely regarded as a classic of world literature.
Publication and authorship
The Little Prince was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and first published in 1943. Sources indicate it appeared first in English translation in the United States, with the French edition published later in France.
Plot
The novella centers on a pilot who crashes in the Sahara and meets a young prince who has traveled from planet to planet. The narrative combines a simple adventure story with reflections on adult behaviour and human relationships.
Themes and interpretation
The book is commonly described as a children’s story with philosophical and allegorical elements. Its major themes include innocence, friendship, love, loneliness, and the contrast between children and adults.
Cultural impact
The Little Prince is one of the best-selling and most widely translated books in publishing history. It has also been adapted into many other forms and remains a major cultural reference.
Key facts
- The book was published in 1943 and includes illustrations by Saint-Exupéry.
- It has been translated into more than 300 languages, making it one of the most translated works in the world.
- It has sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide.
- The story follows a pilot stranded in the Sahara who meets the Little Prince, a boy from another asteroid.
- Its themes include friendship, loneliness, love, and loss.
The Little Prince is widely read in Canada and is often cited in Canadian coverage of international literature, including CBC Books’ reporting on Saint-Exupéry and the novella’s global reach.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Little Prince?
When was The Little Prince first published?
What kind of book is The Little Prince?
What is The Little Prince about?
How widely translated is The Little Prince?
How many copies has The Little Prince sold?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Little-PrinceSupports: Authorship, publication year, French title, synopsis, sales estimate, translation reach
- SparkNotes — https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/littleprince/facts/Supports: Title, author, genre, language, time/place written, publication details, narrator
- SparkNotes — https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/littleprince/summary/Supports: Basic plot summary and characters
- CBC Books — https://www.cbc.ca/books/75-facts-you-might-not-know-about-antoine-de-saint-exup%C3%A9ry-and-the-little-prince-1.4942933Supports: Translation count and sales estimate
- Well Read Company — https://wellreadcompany.com/blogs/well-read-company-blog/10-interesting-facts-about-the-little-prince-you-may-not-knowSupports: Themes, authorship of illustrations, adaptations