The Little Prince
1943 novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Little Prince (French: Le Petit Prince, pronounced [lə p(ə)ti pʁɛ̃s]) is a novella written and illustrated by French writer and military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was first published in English and French in the United States by Reynal & Hitchcock in April 1943 and was published posthumously in France following liberation; Saint-Exupéry's works had been banned by the Vichy Regime. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults, and human nature.[9]
Author | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry |
---|---|
Original title | Le Petit Prince |
Translator | (English editions)
|
Illustrator | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry |
Cover artist | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry |
Language | French |
Publisher | Reynal & Hitchcock (U.S.) Gallimard (France)[8] |
Publication date | April 1943 (U.S.: English & French) 1945 (France: French)[8][Note 1] |
Publication place | France |
Awards | Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century |
Preceded by | Pilote de guerre (1942) |
Followed by | Lettre à un otage [fr] (1944) |
The Little Prince became Saint-Exupéry's most successful work, selling an estimated 140 million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the best-selling in history.[10][11][12][Note 2][14] The book has been translated into over 505 different languages and dialects worldwide, being the second most translated work ever published, trailing only the Bible.[15][16][17] The Little Prince has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, and opera.[16][18]