The Little Prince

Title: Little Prince

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

It’s been so many years since I first picked the Little Prince to read. As a young girl, the book immediately struck a chord in me. Several years later, a few months back, I picked up the book again fondly to read on an off day in college. And, a smile was immediately pinned to my face, and my heart was happy and light. One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read, the Little Prince is a delight to the reader, filled with optimism and a fresh perspective. I’d hate to spoil and give away the beautiful, very simple story that’ll melt your heart. So, here’s a post to, instead, make sure you read it. 

"The grown−ups' response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of boa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter. I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. Grown−ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them."

The story of the Little Prince and his Rose is a heartwarming tale of the gift and purity of childhood that people lose when they grow up. And, to sum up the effect of the book, without giving spoilers (because it is such a pleasure to read this one), here’s something from the book itself:

"Here, then, is a great mystery. For you who also love the little prince, and for me, nothing in the universe can be the same if somewhere, we do not know where, a sheep that we never saw has−− yes or no?−− eaten a rose... Look up at the sky. 

Ask yourselves: is it yes or no? Has the sheep eaten the flower? And you will see how everything changes... 

And no grown−up will ever understand that this is a matter of so much importance!"

The Little Prince is a book for every child to retain and every adult to learn from. Beautifully illustrated, the characters are sure to take a permanent place in your heart. Do yourself a favour and read it, it’s a book that you’ll treasure and cherish forever.