The Little Prince

Outline

The Little Prince (1943) is a short, poetic novella about a pilot stranded in the Sahara who meets a mysterious boy from a tiny planet. Through the prince's visits to strange grown-ups, his love for a proud rose and his friendship with a wise fox, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry explores friendship, love, responsibility and the things that can only be seen with the heart. It is one of the most translated books ever.

• A pilot stranded in the Sahara meets a mysterious boy who has travelled from a tiny planet.
• The prince's visits to strange grown-ups show how adults can lose sight of what matters.
• The prince's love for a proud rose teaches that love brings both joy and responsibility.
• A wise fox befriends the prince and helps him see that some things can only be seen with the heart.
• The story is a poetic reflection on friendship, love and responsibility.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944) was a French writer and aviator who flew mail routes across the Sahara and South America. He disappeared over the Mediterranean on a reconnaissance flight in 1944. His other works include Night Flight and Wind, Sand and Stars.