- Paperback: 168 pages
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Jan 12 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0156318806
- ISBN-13: 978-0156318808
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.6 x 1.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 200 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #267,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
A recollection of the shattering days during World War II when, though the fall of France was imminent, a handful of French pilots continued to fight on against the Germans. Translated by Lewis Galantire.
About the Author
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY (1900-1944) was born in Lyons, France. He took his first flight at the age of eleven and became a pilot at twenty-six. A pioneer of commercial aviation, he flew in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. His internationally celebrated writings include The Little Prince; Wind, Sand and Stars; Night Flight; Southern Mail; and Airmans Odyssey.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful while he remains a soldier ...,
By
This review is from: Flight To Arras (Paperback)
St. Ex's musings on his flight over Arras are well worth the read. While in the moment of danger, and leading up to it, his prose is eloquent and moving, and reflects the strage abandon of the warrior spirit.While perhaps the social and philosophical commentary that follows the flight is perhaps accurate of the reflection that typically follows, I found this somewhat less enjoyable. But then to each their own. On the whole, a wonderful read, and an enjoyable contrast to his Little Prince, which I enjoyed so much. An amazing life lived, and hardly diminished by its anonymous end.
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's the point?,
By A Customer
This review is from: Flight To Arras (Paperback)
In this autobiographical story, Saint-Ex tells of the already lost battle he found himself in during 1940 in desperate, war-torn France. He and his crew get sent on a hopeless reconnoissance flight mission over the burning City of Arras. Faced with almost certain imminent death, he is brought to the point of where he can't help but ask himself: "Where's the sense in all this? What am I doing? Why am I doing this?" And as we live through the harrowing experience with him, he lets us see into his heart and mind as he tries to find some answers.. What he comes up with is defined by solid thought resulting from acute observation (Metaphysics my foot!) of man and mankind, certainly more poignant now than ever and therefore surely timeless... And since it's Saint-Ex who relates all this in his unique humble-but-not-so-humble and profoundly human style, this is not only an exciting read about a dangerous time, but it is infused with charme and humour like some superb wine with its unique flavour and aroma. A great little book by a great man.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Written with great style...,
By Franz Noel Isler "britelites77" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Flight To Arras (Paperback)
This is an intellectually emotional musing of a pilot while on a reconnaisance mission in the midst of the hopeless Battle of France in the summer of 1940. Do not expect graphic descriptions of air combat, for only one eventful, though dangerous mission was told, interspersed by Saint-Ex's recollection of the human virtues and the war itself.In this work he delves with clear logic about life and the meaning of life, of loyalty, love of country, the meaning and feeling of facing mortal danger while looking through his life in one slow kaleidoscope. It is easy to see the prevailing athmosphere of defeatism that have enveloped France, and his writing was no exception, though justified. France cannot go it alone, with its 40 million against the 80 million (population) across the Rhine, and how the way of life that predominate in his country differs from its more industrial neighbor. One of the great modern French stylist, Saint-Ex must have given headaches to the translator, for he wrote in a lyric poetic fashion difficult to translate (this is the Lewis Galantiere translation). One must pose occasionally to savor his prose. Here in colorful intensity he lays down in vivid detail his humanity and shows what made his writing different from other aviation literature. His popularity is such that people sometimes stresses the "Saint" in his name in order to prop him higher than the rank of hero worship. But his life does not fit that image. A man of many talents---cardplayer, mathematician, caricaturist, chess player, poet, writer and of course, aviator---he was however a baffling personality who defied straight description: A gifted mathematician, he rejected that intellectual circle; a man who likes action, he hated to exercise; one of the great writers of France, he did not wish to be a professional writer; a skeptic, he wanted to believe in God. There are critics who described his writing as sentimental hogwash, the harbinger of hollow ideas, the man who can "replace the human brain with an aeroplane engine", et al..but his writings displayed (in this reviewer's modest opinion) a noble image, and for good or bad, he must be judged in the end by what he wrote. The sale of his books speaks for itself. This is a highly recommended reading experience.
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