Saint-Exupéry: A Biography

Stacy Schiff chronicles the remarkable life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French aviator and author who wrote The Little Prince. The biography follows Saint-Exupéry from his aristocratic upbringing through his pioneering career in early aviation and his eventual emergence as a literary figure. The narrative covers his years as a mail pilot in the 1920s and 30s, flying dangerous routes across the Sahara and South America for Aéropostale. Through extensive research and primary sources, Schiff reconstructs Saint-Exupéry's experiences in the air and his complex personal relationships, including his marriage to Consuelo Suncin. Drawing on letters, diaries, and interviews, the book details Saint-Exupéry's writing career and the creation of his most famous works. The biography gives particular attention to the period surrounding the publication of The Little Prince during his exile in New York. This biography illuminates the intersections between Saint-Exupéry's aviation career, literary work, and philosophical outlook, revealing how his experiences as a pilot shaped his views on life, duty, and human connection.

Readers praise Schiff's deep research and engaging portrayal of Saint-Exupéry's complex personality and relationships. Many note how the biography balances his aviation career with his writing life, while illuminating his marriage to Consuelo and his struggles with depression. Readers liked: - Detailed coverage of his time in North Africa and South America - Clear explanations of his philosophical views - Strong historical context about French aviation and culture Common criticisms: - Dense writing style requires focused reading - Too much detail about minor figures - Some sections move slowly, especially political background Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (421 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (41 ratings) "Brings alive both the heroic aviator and tormented artist" - Goodreads reviewer "Occasionally gets bogged down in minutiae" - Amazon reviewer "The research is impressive but the narrative sometimes loses momentum" - LibraryThing review

Lindbergh - The complex life of Charles Lindbergh spans aviation pioneering, personal tragedy, and controversial politics, mirroring Saint-Exupéry's journey between public heroism and private struggles.

West with the Night - Beryl Markham's memoir of flying in colonial Africa captures the spirit of early aviation and literary achievement that defined Saint-Exupéry's life and work.

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough The story of Orville and Wilbur Wright presents the intersection of technical innovation and personal dedication that characterizes Saint-Exupéry's aviation career.

Lost in the Wild: Danger and Survival in the North Woods - The narrative of pilot Denison Kitchel's wilderness survival after his plane crash connects with Saint-Exupéry's experiences of isolation and peril in remote locations.

Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry This memoir serves as a companion to Schiff's biography, presenting Saint-Exupéry's firsthand account of his flying experiences and philosophical reflections.

★ The biography won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Biography, establishing Stacy Schiff as one of the leading literary biographers of her generation. ★ Saint-Exupéry wrote The Little Prince while living in exile in New York during World War II, completing most of the manuscript at a friend's estate on Long Island. ★ As a pilot for Aéropostale, Saint-Exupéry survived multiple crashes in the Sahara Desert and Andes Mountains, experiences that directly influenced his writing, especially in Wind, Sand and Stars. ★ Despite being over 40 and plagued by old injuries, Saint-Exupéry pulled strings to fly combat missions during WWII, vanishing during his last flight over the Mediterranean on July 31, 1944. ★ In 2004, decades after the biography's publication, wreckage from Saint-Exupéry's P-38 Lightning was finally discovered off the coast of Marseille, solving part of the mystery of his disappearance.