The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

I heard about this book after reading the BBC's top 100 books we should all read in our lifetime, and decided to give it a go. I embarked on it with no preconceptions or expectations not to mention prior knowledge of the story. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading it that it is so much more than a children's' book.



It was published in 1943 in French Le Petit Prince and has since been translated into 180 languages and has sold more than 80 million copies (+1 since I just bought it!!) making it one of the bestselling books ever. That alone was a good enough selling point for me to try it out! Although it is written with children in mind, the book also covers many ideologies that will perhaps be missed by a child. The main essence of the book comes from a conversation with a fox and the Prince whereby the fox tries to teach the boy what is most important in life; "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible with the eye." So simple yet so profound.





A Pilot forced to land his plane in the lonely Sahara comes across a little Prince from another planet who not only enchants the pilot but opens his eyes to the way modern man has lost their childhood perspective. It is quite humbling to read and all of us can see our reflection in one or more of the characters illustrated in the story.



Beautifully written with an innocence that is both alluring and raw. This story makes us all face the child within and see where we have got lost in the adult world.



9/10 - A book for everyone.