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Prince of the Skies
A gripping narrative of friendship and exploration, and an homage to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, an unforgettable writer who touched the lives of millions of readers, and who was able to see the world through the eyes of a child.
In the 1920s, long before he wrote The Little Prince , Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was an accomplished pilot. Along with Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet, he was chosen to pioneer new mail routes across the globe. No distance was too far and no mountain too high―each letter had to reach its destination. The three friends soared through the air, while back on solid ground, they dealt with a world torn apart by wars and political factions.
In the 1920s, long before he wrote The Little Prince , Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was an accomplished pilot. Along with Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet, he was chosen to pioneer new mail routes across the globe. No distance was too far and no mountain too high―each letter had to reach its destination. The three friends soared through the air, while back on solid ground, they dealt with a world torn apart by wars and political factions.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
166 people are currently reading
5488 people want to read
About the author
Antonio Iturbe
41 books310 followersAntonio González Iturbe is a Spanish journalist, writer and professor. He is the director of the cultural magazine Librújula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
December 31, 2021
I want to start my review by admitting that although I always read the blurb of a book before deciding whether to read it, I often forget what the book is about before I’m able to read it. That is exactly what happened to me with this book, and it created quite an unusual experience for me.
The Prince of the skies follows three pilots: Jean, Henri and Antoine. Their incredible friendship, amazing adventures and domestic lives are interwoven in this wonderful historical novel.
I have always wanted to read the little prince, but have never actually managed to get round to it. It wasn’t until I was about 3/4 of the way through this novel that I realised that this book is based on the author. I had spent the first chunk of the book trying to decide if it was based on the lives of men that were extremely exciting, or if it was an adventure novel that was slightly dull. It seems that these men just lived extraordinary lives, and I am so glad that I have been able to experience them through this book.
The translation was beautifully done, and although the book is a long one I enjoyed reading the entire thing. My only issue, is that I wish a note was added onto the end which indicated the true historical events. I love it when historical novels include a section on the the true history that inspired them. That being said, I don’t think I will ever look at pilots or mail carriers in quite the same way again.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical novels based on the lives of real people. Especially anyone with an interest in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I want to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and Antonio Iturbe for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
The Prince of the skies follows three pilots: Jean, Henri and Antoine. Their incredible friendship, amazing adventures and domestic lives are interwoven in this wonderful historical novel.
I have always wanted to read the little prince, but have never actually managed to get round to it. It wasn’t until I was about 3/4 of the way through this novel that I realised that this book is based on the author. I had spent the first chunk of the book trying to decide if it was based on the lives of men that were extremely exciting, or if it was an adventure novel that was slightly dull. It seems that these men just lived extraordinary lives, and I am so glad that I have been able to experience them through this book.
The translation was beautifully done, and although the book is a long one I enjoyed reading the entire thing. My only issue, is that I wish a note was added onto the end which indicated the true historical events. I love it when historical novels include a section on the the true history that inspired them. That being said, I don’t think I will ever look at pilots or mail carriers in quite the same way again.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical novels based on the lives of real people. Especially anyone with an interest in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I want to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and Antonio Iturbe for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
March 18, 2022
The Little Prince has been an all time favorite of mine for many many years now! I always wondered about the life of its author/aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. That’s why I was so thrilled to find this book, which is dedicated to telling the life of Saint-Ex himself!
When I love a book, one of my favorite things to do is learn about its author! I find it fascinating to look for the links that connect a writer to their stories!
I loved learning about Saint-Ex in this way, and it makes The Little Prince feel even more impactful!
When I love a book, one of my favorite things to do is learn about its author! I find it fascinating to look for the links that connect a writer to their stories!
I loved learning about Saint-Ex in this way, and it makes The Little Prince feel even more impactful!
June 29, 2022
Loses some steam toward the end, but overall, I really enjoyed this!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
November 4, 2021
My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
While I’ve read The Little Prince many times, and find it an endearing read, full of little nuggets of wisdom, I knew very little about its author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, except that he was an aristocrat, a pilot, and an author (I haven’t read his other books so far, though). So, when I spotted this book, I certainly wanted to pick it up. The Prince of the Skies, originally written in Spanish, and excellently translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites, tells us the story of Saint-Exupéry and his fellow pioneer pilots and friends, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet.
In the book, we trace the journey of the three friends from their initial days flying (for both Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz, this was in the army) to their joining Aéropostale, a company that flew letters to different parts of the world—here the three met and formed a life-long friendship—and thereafter, as they flew to new countries, had different experiences (including accidents in which they nearly lost their lives or those in which they were stranded in the most difficult terrains, once again facing death), but always held sacred their duty to deliver the mail. Alongside we also follow their personal stories, Saint-Exupéry’s writing career (which sadly led him to be estranged from many of his fellow pilots), their friendship with one another, and of course the war which brought new duties and challenges their way.
Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz, and Guillaumet were very different as people, though all shared a passion for flying (which was what tied them to each other). They were all also daring, and no obstacle or possible danger would deter them from flying a new or difficult route or to an unknown place. Yet all three were very different as people. Saint-Exupéry had a mind that was childlike and yet profound—like his Little Prince—seeing the world through very different eyes than others. At some level, though, he also reminded me a little of Dickens’ Harold Skimpole—living always beyond his means, and not able to ‘function’ as an adult (for instance, instead of taking notes when he was testing a plane, Saint-Exupéry was doodling). Mermoz lived life to the fullest with a voracious appetite for everything, be it flying, food, or women; a tenacious man who never gave up no matter what the challnge. Guillaumet was like them in his love for the skies, but in matters of their heart, very much in love with and loyal to his wife Noelle.
This was an enjoyable book to read giving one a picture of the initial days of aviation, the challenges pilots had to face each time they went up, and the difficult conditions which they had to navigate. Alongside, for instance, in Saint-Exupéry’s case, being manager in Cape Juby (Morocco) meant also having to develop relationships with the fiery Spanish army and also the local tribes, which he did with sensitivity; or Memoz in South America had to work out feasible routes, and also went on to establish the first ever transatlantic postal route. Flying for them was not simply about knowing how to fly a plane (those too, were not of the kind we have today), but laid the foundation for all that was to come. The challenges were many, not just from the dangers of taking to the skies, and those of being the first to do many things, but bureaucracy and politics had also to be contended with. We also get to meet Amelia Earhart and get a glimpse of the first women pilots and the challenges they faced.
I loved that the parts of the story with Saint-Exupéry also incorporated aspects from The Little Prince, incidents and scenes from the book, for instance, the elephant eaten by the boa (I kept wanting to dig out my copy and look at the illustration; ultimately I just googled it) or the taming of a gazelle (in the Little Prince, it is a fox).
The three pilots we follow were all extraordinary men, daring, adventurous, not perhaps conforming to social mores but living their lives to the fullest, in fact, much more. As their boss in Aeropostale, M. Daurat, says at one point ‘They lived each year as if it were ten. They conquered their fears, they reached amazing places where no one had been before, they overcame challenges that seemed impossible, they sacrificed themselves so that people could receive their mail in remote places. I don’t know if it was worth it, but I’m certain of one thing, they made their lives extraordinary’.
This was a wonderful and engaging read which not only told the story of these three extraordinary ‘princes’ but also made us readers feel their love for the skies!
4.5 stars.
While I’ve read The Little Prince many times, and find it an endearing read, full of little nuggets of wisdom, I knew very little about its author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, except that he was an aristocrat, a pilot, and an author (I haven’t read his other books so far, though). So, when I spotted this book, I certainly wanted to pick it up. The Prince of the Skies, originally written in Spanish, and excellently translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites, tells us the story of Saint-Exupéry and his fellow pioneer pilots and friends, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet.
In the book, we trace the journey of the three friends from their initial days flying (for both Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz, this was in the army) to their joining Aéropostale, a company that flew letters to different parts of the world—here the three met and formed a life-long friendship—and thereafter, as they flew to new countries, had different experiences (including accidents in which they nearly lost their lives or those in which they were stranded in the most difficult terrains, once again facing death), but always held sacred their duty to deliver the mail. Alongside we also follow their personal stories, Saint-Exupéry’s writing career (which sadly led him to be estranged from many of his fellow pilots), their friendship with one another, and of course the war which brought new duties and challenges their way.
Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz, and Guillaumet were very different as people, though all shared a passion for flying (which was what tied them to each other). They were all also daring, and no obstacle or possible danger would deter them from flying a new or difficult route or to an unknown place. Yet all three were very different as people. Saint-Exupéry had a mind that was childlike and yet profound—like his Little Prince—seeing the world through very different eyes than others. At some level, though, he also reminded me a little of Dickens’ Harold Skimpole—living always beyond his means, and not able to ‘function’ as an adult (for instance, instead of taking notes when he was testing a plane, Saint-Exupéry was doodling). Mermoz lived life to the fullest with a voracious appetite for everything, be it flying, food, or women; a tenacious man who never gave up no matter what the challnge. Guillaumet was like them in his love for the skies, but in matters of their heart, very much in love with and loyal to his wife Noelle.
This was an enjoyable book to read giving one a picture of the initial days of aviation, the challenges pilots had to face each time they went up, and the difficult conditions which they had to navigate. Alongside, for instance, in Saint-Exupéry’s case, being manager in Cape Juby (Morocco) meant also having to develop relationships with the fiery Spanish army and also the local tribes, which he did with sensitivity; or Memoz in South America had to work out feasible routes, and also went on to establish the first ever transatlantic postal route. Flying for them was not simply about knowing how to fly a plane (those too, were not of the kind we have today), but laid the foundation for all that was to come. The challenges were many, not just from the dangers of taking to the skies, and those of being the first to do many things, but bureaucracy and politics had also to be contended with. We also get to meet Amelia Earhart and get a glimpse of the first women pilots and the challenges they faced.
I loved that the parts of the story with Saint-Exupéry also incorporated aspects from The Little Prince, incidents and scenes from the book, for instance, the elephant eaten by the boa (I kept wanting to dig out my copy and look at the illustration; ultimately I just googled it) or the taming of a gazelle (in the Little Prince, it is a fox).
The three pilots we follow were all extraordinary men, daring, adventurous, not perhaps conforming to social mores but living their lives to the fullest, in fact, much more. As their boss in Aeropostale, M. Daurat, says at one point ‘They lived each year as if it were ten. They conquered their fears, they reached amazing places where no one had been before, they overcame challenges that seemed impossible, they sacrificed themselves so that people could receive their mail in remote places. I don’t know if it was worth it, but I’m certain of one thing, they made their lives extraordinary’.
This was a wonderful and engaging read which not only told the story of these three extraordinary ‘princes’ but also made us readers feel their love for the skies!
4.5 stars.
July 21, 2021
This spellbinding novel revolves around Antoine De Saint-Expéry, author of children’s classic The Little Prince, who was also a pioneer of aviation and helped to open up postal routes across Africa and South America. The scrapes he and his two colleagues get into are gripping – lots of crashes that mean they have to improvise repairs en route, walking through the Andes in winter, and accidentally flying low over a German airfield during wartime. The descriptions of flying are glorious, and I enjoyed learning technical details about the engines. The translator has done a great job because it never at any point reads like a translation.
I didn't engage quite so fully with the colleagues' stories, but I adored the character of Antoine, a man who is ingenious when flying a plane and an idiot when it comes to love. He has immense courage, and he always wears his heart on his sleeve, no matter what he’s doing. As a biographical novel, it’s a triumph because it lets us get to know a multi-faceted human being against the wider picture of life as an aviator in the 1920s through to 1945. Highly recommended!
I didn't engage quite so fully with the colleagues' stories, but I adored the character of Antoine, a man who is ingenious when flying a plane and an idiot when it comes to love. He has immense courage, and he always wears his heart on his sleeve, no matter what he’s doing. As a biographical novel, it’s a triumph because it lets us get to know a multi-faceted human being against the wider picture of life as an aviator in the 1920s through to 1945. Highly recommended!
October 29, 2021
The fact that I finished this book says a lot more about my interest in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry than the merits of this book. The story "arc" was more of a long, flat highway with the occasional speed bump. Emphasis on long . . . and flat.
On the positive side, there was a LOT of really interesting history packed in these pages. I felt like the author had to try really hard to make this story so boring. He had so much to work with.
On hindsight, a textbook on this subject might have been less mundane.
On the positive side, there was a LOT of really interesting history packed in these pages. I felt like the author had to try really hard to make this story so boring. He had so much to work with.
On hindsight, a textbook on this subject might have been less mundane.
October 25, 2021
4.5 stars
This is one of the best historical novels I’ve read this year! Beautiful prose, emotionally engaging, historically grounded, & a compelling portrayal of historical figures. It’s about aviation pioneers, enduring friendship, a lifelong yearning for intimate & fulfilling love, travel, & writing. So good!
[What I liked:]
•This is long & not a mystery novel, but I loved every page of it & didn’t want it to end! Covering more than two decades of three MC’s’ lives, the character arcs & their life stories intertwine & diverge seamlessly, & all three characters have such meaningfully written endings.
•The writing (prose) is gorgeous, & skillfully captures Antoine’s sensitivity & philosophical melancholy, Mermoz’s intense restlessness & passionate pushing of boundaries, & Guillaumet’s steadfast & gentle presence. There is such a nice balance between the action/adventure storylines, Antoine’s complex internal life & development as a writer, the three pilots’ friendship dynamics throughout the years, their love stories, & their respective deaths.
•This is quite well researched, with excellent historical detail & full-fleshed fictionalized portrayals of the historical figures. Mermoz & Antoine are deeply flawed humans, yet compelling & intensely relatable. The characters are just so alive in this book. I also loved the history related to the pioneering days of commercial aviation, Antoine’s stint as a de facto diplomat in colonial North Africa, his writing career, & the war years.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Man, so many of these characters are deeply effed up, yet resonated with me so much that I’m a bit concerned how relatable I found their flaws 😂😭 They’re not all-around models of how humanity should live (with the exception of the Guillaumets!), but if you can look past their racism & infidelity, etc., there’s much to admire in their tenacity, tireless devotion to living life to the fullest, & idealism as well. But I can see where some readers might not like these characters, or even find them repellent.
•It was a bit hokey how Antoine’s inspirations for The Little Prince were rather clumsily inserted throughout the book. I mean, I get why those were included, & to some extent I appreciated them, but some of them in particular didn’t naturally blend into the narrative & thus felt stilted.
CW: racism, colonialism, infidelity, substance abuse, fascism, major character death
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
This is one of the best historical novels I’ve read this year! Beautiful prose, emotionally engaging, historically grounded, & a compelling portrayal of historical figures. It’s about aviation pioneers, enduring friendship, a lifelong yearning for intimate & fulfilling love, travel, & writing. So good!
[What I liked:]
•This is long & not a mystery novel, but I loved every page of it & didn’t want it to end! Covering more than two decades of three MC’s’ lives, the character arcs & their life stories intertwine & diverge seamlessly, & all three characters have such meaningfully written endings.
•The writing (prose) is gorgeous, & skillfully captures Antoine’s sensitivity & philosophical melancholy, Mermoz’s intense restlessness & passionate pushing of boundaries, & Guillaumet’s steadfast & gentle presence. There is such a nice balance between the action/adventure storylines, Antoine’s complex internal life & development as a writer, the three pilots’ friendship dynamics throughout the years, their love stories, & their respective deaths.
•This is quite well researched, with excellent historical detail & full-fleshed fictionalized portrayals of the historical figures. Mermoz & Antoine are deeply flawed humans, yet compelling & intensely relatable. The characters are just so alive in this book. I also loved the history related to the pioneering days of commercial aviation, Antoine’s stint as a de facto diplomat in colonial North Africa, his writing career, & the war years.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Man, so many of these characters are deeply effed up, yet resonated with me so much that I’m a bit concerned how relatable I found their flaws 😂😭 They’re not all-around models of how humanity should live (with the exception of the Guillaumets!), but if you can look past their racism & infidelity, etc., there’s much to admire in their tenacity, tireless devotion to living life to the fullest, & idealism as well. But I can see where some readers might not like these characters, or even find them repellent.
•It was a bit hokey how Antoine’s inspirations for The Little Prince were rather clumsily inserted throughout the book. I mean, I get why those were included, & to some extent I appreciated them, but some of them in particular didn’t naturally blend into the narrative & thus felt stilted.
CW: racism, colonialism, infidelity, substance abuse, fascism, major character death
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
October 30, 2021
I may be one of the few people who had not read Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince before reading this book but I knew it is a much-loved classic. Finding out more about the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was what initially drew me to The Prince of the Skies but, once I started reading it, I knew I had to read The Little Prince so treated myself to a lovely Macmillan Collections Library edition. And how glad I am that I did because I was able to spot how cleverly Antonio Iturbe has incorporated elements of The Little Prince into The Prince of the Skies. For example, a scene in which Antoine encounters a lamplighter on the streets of Paris, or when Antoine tames a gazelle in a similar way as the little prince tames a fox. Once I started reading more about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s extraordinary life I was also able to appreciate how skilfully Antonio Iturbe has combined the known facts about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s life with his own imagining of Antoine’s thoughts and emotions.
Antoine comes across as a dreamer besotted by the idea of flying and a life of adventure. Unfortunately for him he’s also besotted by a young Parisian woman, Louise de Vilmorin, who forces him to choose between continuing their relationship or flying, not wanting to become a pilot’s widow. Despite Antoine’s love of flying, because of his devotion to Louise he agrees to her request although he will come to regret it. In fact, he never quite comes to terms with losing Louise and she remains in his heart for the rest of his life. Deprived of the occupation he loves, he distracts himself by writing stories and creating illustrations to accompany them.
Running in parallel with events in Antoine’s life is the story of Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet, who features in one of the standout scenes in the book. The three men eventually meet and form a deep and lasting friendship. Often stationed in different countries, even different continents, their occasional reunions are joyful, lively and frequently involve vast quantities of champagne. Although the three men share a love of flying and possess remarkable skills as aviators, they are quite different in character. Mermoz is a rumbustious character with a seemingly insatiable appetite for food, drink and women – not necessarily in that order. He gets into all kinds of scrapes before ending up as one of the pioneers of the postal air service in South America, finding routes through the Andes that many have thought. Henri is quieter but a loyal and faithful friend.
It was fascinating to learn about the early days of the use of aircraft to transport mail across Europe, and to Africa and beyond. It was a dangerous business relying on a pilot’s navigational ability and aerial skills to fly through wind and rain, at altitude and land at often makeshift airfields. However, despite all the hardships and the long hours, what comes across is the joy that Antoine and his friends find in the freedom of the skies.
There are some magical moments in the book such as when Antoine persuades Sheikh Abdul Okri, the head of a local Berber tribe, to take a flight with him and the Sheikh sees forests and the sea for the first time. ‘The old Saharan hardened by the desert, the intransigent chief, the fierce warrior sheds tears…‘ Antoine is moved by his reponse, reflecting that ‘Humankind – egoistic, hateful, mean, capable of the greatest atrocities – can also be a creature capable of becoming emotional at the sight of the ancient peace of trees’. Other memorable moments that stuck in my mind were when Mermoz flies thousands of miles to bring home the body of a dead pilot, or when Antoine delivers a mailbag which includes a letter to a mother from her long-lost son and observes, ‘These letters contain something more valuable than gold’.
Despite being over 500 pages, I was swept along by the story and the beautiful writing of Antonio Iturbe. It is full of wonderful descriptions and imaginative metaphors. I particularly liked the way the act of writing was described, something that becomes almost as important to Antoine as flying. In fact, as he taps out words on his typewriter, he thinks of writing as another way of flying ‘both having to do with vertigo and vibrations’. At one point, Antoine likens the writer to a farmer sowing virgin land. ‘Effort, determination, and many days dedicated to the task guarantee nothing; sometimes the harvest turns out to be riddled with maggoty, rotten words.’ In fact, the author depicts Antoine tearing up ninety-nine pages out of every hundred he writes as he struggles to transform his thoughts into words. Yet when Antoine does finally achieve success and one of his stories is published, his happiness is tinged with sadness. ‘It’s a finished work; he can no longer sink his fingers into its clay and give it form; it doesn’t belong to his potter’s hands anymore.’ And surely Antoine’s observation that ‘Thinking up stories is less tiring than writing them’ must be something many authors would agree with.
I hadn’t realised how near to the end of his life it was that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote The Little Prince and that it was published in France only posthumously. As The Prince of the Skies neared its conclusion I found myself longing for a different outcome for Antoine, whilst knowing that a tragic ending was inevitable. The precise cause of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s death has been the subject of much speculation over the years and the ending of the book includes elements of some of the theories whilst still leaving space for the reader to make up their own mind. Whatever the truth, I’d like to think that, if you look up to the sky one day and spot three tiny dots, it might just be Antoine, Jean and Henri reunited in the place they felt happiest.
The Prince of the Skies is a moving story of love, friendship and the enduring power of stories to enchant us, connect us with past and future generations, and allow us to escape into the clouds for just a little while.
Antoine comes across as a dreamer besotted by the idea of flying and a life of adventure. Unfortunately for him he’s also besotted by a young Parisian woman, Louise de Vilmorin, who forces him to choose between continuing their relationship or flying, not wanting to become a pilot’s widow. Despite Antoine’s love of flying, because of his devotion to Louise he agrees to her request although he will come to regret it. In fact, he never quite comes to terms with losing Louise and she remains in his heart for the rest of his life. Deprived of the occupation he loves, he distracts himself by writing stories and creating illustrations to accompany them.
Running in parallel with events in Antoine’s life is the story of Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet, who features in one of the standout scenes in the book. The three men eventually meet and form a deep and lasting friendship. Often stationed in different countries, even different continents, their occasional reunions are joyful, lively and frequently involve vast quantities of champagne. Although the three men share a love of flying and possess remarkable skills as aviators, they are quite different in character. Mermoz is a rumbustious character with a seemingly insatiable appetite for food, drink and women – not necessarily in that order. He gets into all kinds of scrapes before ending up as one of the pioneers of the postal air service in South America, finding routes through the Andes that many have thought. Henri is quieter but a loyal and faithful friend.
It was fascinating to learn about the early days of the use of aircraft to transport mail across Europe, and to Africa and beyond. It was a dangerous business relying on a pilot’s navigational ability and aerial skills to fly through wind and rain, at altitude and land at often makeshift airfields. However, despite all the hardships and the long hours, what comes across is the joy that Antoine and his friends find in the freedom of the skies.
There are some magical moments in the book such as when Antoine persuades Sheikh Abdul Okri, the head of a local Berber tribe, to take a flight with him and the Sheikh sees forests and the sea for the first time. ‘The old Saharan hardened by the desert, the intransigent chief, the fierce warrior sheds tears…‘ Antoine is moved by his reponse, reflecting that ‘Humankind – egoistic, hateful, mean, capable of the greatest atrocities – can also be a creature capable of becoming emotional at the sight of the ancient peace of trees’. Other memorable moments that stuck in my mind were when Mermoz flies thousands of miles to bring home the body of a dead pilot, or when Antoine delivers a mailbag which includes a letter to a mother from her long-lost son and observes, ‘These letters contain something more valuable than gold’.
Despite being over 500 pages, I was swept along by the story and the beautiful writing of Antonio Iturbe. It is full of wonderful descriptions and imaginative metaphors. I particularly liked the way the act of writing was described, something that becomes almost as important to Antoine as flying. In fact, as he taps out words on his typewriter, he thinks of writing as another way of flying ‘both having to do with vertigo and vibrations’. At one point, Antoine likens the writer to a farmer sowing virgin land. ‘Effort, determination, and many days dedicated to the task guarantee nothing; sometimes the harvest turns out to be riddled with maggoty, rotten words.’ In fact, the author depicts Antoine tearing up ninety-nine pages out of every hundred he writes as he struggles to transform his thoughts into words. Yet when Antoine does finally achieve success and one of his stories is published, his happiness is tinged with sadness. ‘It’s a finished work; he can no longer sink his fingers into its clay and give it form; it doesn’t belong to his potter’s hands anymore.’ And surely Antoine’s observation that ‘Thinking up stories is less tiring than writing them’ must be something many authors would agree with.
I hadn’t realised how near to the end of his life it was that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote The Little Prince and that it was published in France only posthumously. As The Prince of the Skies neared its conclusion I found myself longing for a different outcome for Antoine, whilst knowing that a tragic ending was inevitable. The precise cause of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s death has been the subject of much speculation over the years and the ending of the book includes elements of some of the theories whilst still leaving space for the reader to make up their own mind. Whatever the truth, I’d like to think that, if you look up to the sky one day and spot three tiny dots, it might just be Antoine, Jean and Henri reunited in the place they felt happiest.
The Prince of the Skies is a moving story of love, friendship and the enduring power of stories to enchant us, connect us with past and future generations, and allow us to escape into the clouds for just a little while.
October 23, 2024
Historical novel, based on Saint-Exupery's life. The novel appears to hew closely to his life. The chapter on the crash in the southern Andes in the winter of 1930 is remarkable. Henri Guillaumet, one of Aeropostal Argentina's best and most experienced pilots, crashed and overturned. Saint-Ex was one of the company pilots searching for him. Guillaumet survived 5 days and nights in subzero temperatures, at one point walking in deep, near-freezing water. He didn't expect to live, but managed to reach an inhabited place. The incident is described here, with a photo of the overturned Potez 25 A2 airplane: https://www.antoinedesaintexupery.com... (scroll to that page). Guillaumet greeted Saint-Ex with this now famous phrase: "What I have done, I swear to you, no animal would ever have done."
I wasn't sure this was going to work for me, It's a long book: 535 pages, and takes awhile to get going. But at p.310, I'm happy. His life is outlined at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine...
The story of his writing The Little Prince, his classic novella, is great. His memoir Wind, Sand and Stars won the US National Book Award in 1940. His US publisher, hearing that his next book was to be on philosophy, suggested writing a children's book first. This was an excellent idea: "The Little Prince" (1943) has sold some 200 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into 300 languages. Per Wikipedia it is the second-best selling fiction in history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Saint-Exupery insisted on flying in the Free French air force, over their objections to his age and disabilities. He was shot down on a recon mission from Corsica and died on 31 July 1944 (exactly 2 years before I was born). His ID bracelet and parts of his plane were recovered in 1998, off the coast of Marseille.
So. An excellent biography of this great pilot and writer. If you have any interest in him and his era, I recommend it highly. An easy 4 stars. High marks.
I wasn't sure this was going to work for me, It's a long book: 535 pages, and takes awhile to get going. But at p.310, I'm happy. His life is outlined at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine...
The story of his writing The Little Prince, his classic novella, is great. His memoir Wind, Sand and Stars won the US National Book Award in 1940. His US publisher, hearing that his next book was to be on philosophy, suggested writing a children's book first. This was an excellent idea: "The Little Prince" (1943) has sold some 200 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into 300 languages. Per Wikipedia it is the second-best selling fiction in history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Saint-Exupery insisted on flying in the Free French air force, over their objections to his age and disabilities. He was shot down on a recon mission from Corsica and died on 31 July 1944 (exactly 2 years before I was born). His ID bracelet and parts of his plane were recovered in 1998, off the coast of Marseille.
So. An excellent biography of this great pilot and writer. If you have any interest in him and his era, I recommend it highly. An easy 4 stars. High marks.
August 12, 2023
Если коротко, то книга мне понравилась.
Но я бы отметила, что она далеко не для всех. Не для всех потому что темп повествования хоть и бодрый, до 60 главы точно, но очень объемный.
Автор охватывает большой кусок жизни Антуана Де Сента Экзюпери. Да и не только его, по правде говоря. С его юношества до самой смерти.
Несмотря на то, что в книге масса чудесных моментов : забавных и трогательных, крынжовых и пронзительных, чтение похоже на бег марафона - под конец выдыхаешься и нужно второе дыхание, чтобы закончить.
Для себя я разделила книгу на две части.
До войны и после (приблизительно 60ая глава), главы там крохотные, но объем у произведения, напоминаю, все-таки «кирпичик».
И вот первая часть этой книги - это атмосфера мультфильмов влюбленного в авиацию Миадзаки: «Ветер крепчает», «Порко Россо», «Небесный замок Лапута» - про людей любящих небо, живущих самолетами, готовыми на всё ради того, чтобы летать. И это очень вдохновляет.
Тони, Жак и Анри - очаровашки. Каждый по-своему, конечно. Следить за их судьбами - увлекательно: ты радуешься успехам, переживаешь за аварии, смеешься с шутеек и с некоторых рассуждений. Аппетит Мермоза - отдельный и очень важный пункт любви к этой книге ! Мермоз - большой двигатель сюжета, за ним наблюдать интереснее, чем за Тони.
Мне нравилось находить вшитые в канву повествования моменты, как будто «отголоски» к будущим работам Антуана. Особенно к принцу.
Вторая часть книги … ты будто вязнешь в бюрократии, кризисе и войне. Наверное, так и задумано, но от этого не легче. Нынче читать про войну вообще тяжело, потому что все войны будто сестры похожи. Добавляет так же, что к концу книги весь фокус сменился только на Тони, а вот сам Тони на самом деле не такой уж и интересный персонаж….
Хочу отдать должное автору, которому удалось так красиво преподнести истории трех летчиков - пионеров гражданской авиации. Во время прочтения я задавалась вопросом насколько книга биографична и была ли у автора цель быть близким к биографии?
У меня сложилось впечатление, что как будто она биографична на столько, насколько это, наверно, возможно без потери очарования. Самой мне, к сожалению, не удалось найти глубоких биографий. Но вроде все в книге близко к тому как было. Единственная кто меня смущает - это Лулу… вот про нее почему-то нигде нет.
Я не близка к авиации, но за влюбленными в свое дело было очень интересно наблюдать. Да и биографию Антуана де Сента - Экзюпери, я до этого момента и не знала.
Но я бы отметила, что она далеко не для всех. Не для всех потому что темп повествования хоть и бодрый, до 60 главы точно, но очень объемный.
Автор охватывает большой кусок жизни Антуана Де Сента Экзюпери. Да и не только его, по правде говоря. С его юношества до самой смерти.
Несмотря на то, что в книге масса чудесных моментов : забавных и трогательных, крынжовых и пронзительных, чтение похоже на бег марафона - под конец выдыхаешься и нужно второе дыхание, чтобы закончить.
Для себя я разделила книгу на две части.
До войны и после (приблизительно 60ая глава), главы там крохотные, но объем у произведения, напоминаю, все-таки «кирпичик».
И вот первая часть этой книги - это атмосфера мультфильмов влюбленного в авиацию Миадзаки: «Ветер крепчает», «Порко Россо», «Небесный замок Лапута» - про людей любящих небо, живущих самолетами, готовыми на всё ради того, чтобы летать. И это очень вдохновляет.
Тони, Жак и Анри - очаровашки. Каждый по-своему, конечно. Следить за их судьбами - увлекательно: ты радуешься успехам, переживаешь за аварии, смеешься с шутеек и с некоторых рассуждений. Аппетит Мермоза - отдельный и очень важный пункт любви к этой книге ! Мермоз - большой двигатель сюжета, за ним наблюдать интереснее, чем за Тони.
Мне нравилось находить вшитые в канву повествования моменты, как будто «отголоски» к будущим работам Антуана. Особенно к принцу.
Вторая часть книги … ты будто вязнешь в бюрократии, кризисе и войне. Наверное, так и задумано, но от этого не легче. Нынче читать про войну вообще тяжело, потому что все войны будто сестры похожи. Добавляет так же, что к концу книги весь фокус сменился только на Тони, а вот сам Тони на самом деле не такой уж и интересный персонаж….
Хочу отдать должное автору, которому удалось так красиво преподнести истории трех летчиков - пионеров гражданской авиации. Во время прочтения я задавалась вопросом насколько книга биографична и была ли у автора цель быть близким к биографии?
У меня сложилось впечатление, что как будто она биографична на столько, насколько это, наверно, возможно без потери очарования. Самой мне, к сожалению, не удалось найти глубоких биографий. Но вроде все в книге близко к тому как было. Единственная кто меня смущает - это Лулу… вот про нее почему-то нигде нет.
Я не близка к авиации, но за влюбленными в свое дело было очень интересно наблюдать. Да и биографию Антуана де Сента - Экзюпери, я до этого момента и не знала.
January 11, 2022
*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted a copy of this book by Pan Macmillan SA in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
"Life is chaotic, savage, and literature should be a reflection of that."
The Prince of the Skies is based on the true story of Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince. Translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites, we learn more about Antoine and see his life as a French aristocrat, aviator and writer. We learn about his dreams to become a pilot, the challenges and the journey to taking to the air as well as friendships made along the way.
The timeline covered in this book are from 1922 to 1945 and throughout these years we experience the story from Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet's POV. The title of this book is fitting since these three friends were the princes of the skies. Even though the book is somewhat lengthy, I found certain parts a bit slow; the adventure, love, loss, plane crashes and life-long friendships will have you soaring through the pages.
"He starts to write prose. Poetry might arrive at the description of a moment, but prose constructs it."
If you like historical fiction, enjoyed The Little Prince or like stories based on a true story, you will enjoy this book.
POET. ARISTOCRAT. PILOT. HERO
3.5 stars
"Life is chaotic, savage, and literature should be a reflection of that."
The Prince of the Skies is based on the true story of Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince. Translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites, we learn more about Antoine and see his life as a French aristocrat, aviator and writer. We learn about his dreams to become a pilot, the challenges and the journey to taking to the air as well as friendships made along the way.
The timeline covered in this book are from 1922 to 1945 and throughout these years we experience the story from Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet's POV. The title of this book is fitting since these three friends were the princes of the skies. Even though the book is somewhat lengthy, I found certain parts a bit slow; the adventure, love, loss, plane crashes and life-long friendships will have you soaring through the pages.
"He starts to write prose. Poetry might arrive at the description of a moment, but prose constructs it."
If you like historical fiction, enjoyed The Little Prince or like stories based on a true story, you will enjoy this book.
POET. ARISTOCRAT. PILOT. HERO
September 9, 2017
Una novela increíblemente bien documentada que nos adentra en los primeros vuelos de transporte postal en Francia. Su mayor baza son sus tres protagonistas: Jean Mermoz, Henri Guillaumet y Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, tres jóvenes muy distintos pero con la misma pasión por volar.
Antonio Iturbe nos ofrece un canto a la amistad y una defensa de los sueños: nada hay que la perseverancia y la valentía no puedan alcanzar.
Me he enamorado por completo de todos ellos pero, especialmente de Antoine, a quien ya admiraba profundamente por "El principito" y de quien me he hecho amiga a lo largo de estas 600 páginas.
Un muy merecido premio.
Antonio Iturbe nos ofrece un canto a la amistad y una defensa de los sueños: nada hay que la perseverancia y la valentía no puedan alcanzar.
Me he enamorado por completo de todos ellos pero, especialmente de Antoine, a quien ya admiraba profundamente por "El principito" y de quien me he hecho amiga a lo largo de estas 600 páginas.
Un muy merecido premio.
September 14, 2021
Thank you to Teen Ink and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Writer Antonio Iturbide and translator Lilit Thwaites combine their talents in the quiet and yet sweeping tale of friendship, purpose, and change that is The Prince of the Skies. Long before writing The Little Prince, Antoine Saint-Exupéry is an aviator whose love of flying is matched only by his hopeless inability to adhere to the rules of a strict military environment. After crashing a biplane on a Sunday-afternoon impulse-flight, his discharge from the military sets off a chain of events that leads him to France’s quickly expanding airmail industry and to two other aviators, Henri Gaillaumet and Jean Mermoz, who will become his closest friends. Together, the three men navigate the turbulent waters of 1920s and ‘30s France through the prestige and expansion of airmail, ever-strained relationships with those they leave behind on the ground, and eventual descent into World War II.
In many ways, The Prince of the Skies felt like one long, incredibly complex character study. By the end of the book, the reader knows Saint-Exupéry in a thousand different facets: a daydreamer, a writer never satisfied with what he writes, a steadfast and genuine presence to his friends who is simultaneously unable to adhere to any semblance of the routines of an ordinary life. Iturbide certainly does not shy away from his flaws, but the picture painted of him over the novel’s 500-plus pages is so thorough and intimate that it is impossible not to feel deeply connected to the eccentric writer by the final pages. Though the book does not reach quite as much depth of character with Mermoz or Guillaumet, the charisma and brazenness of the former combined with the steady and unflappable nature of the latter bring a balance to the book’s main cast.
The pacing and storylines may be the novel’s most masterful stroke, as their lack of direction and driving force would fall flat in nearly any other book. In The Prince of the Skies, though, they feel realistic in that they truly tell a life story without tidy middles and endings. The main cast are in a constant process of moving on, discovering, and reinventing themselves, and so much changes around the characters that by the final pages the reader feels they have lived their entire lives right there beside them. However, such depth is not achieved without tradeoffs - the book is over 500 pages, and, strictly speaking, it would be difficult to describe a plot. The book has a distinct pull, but it is not what one would call a page-turner.
Besides being an intricate character study, The Prince of the Skies is also a deep dive into aviation into the early 1900s and the evolution of early airmail routes. The book encompasses not only a fascinating slew of technical details but the quintessential experience of aviators in a time when each flight was a serious gamble: the genuine love of flying that ensured they couldn’t live without the incredibly dangerous occupation. Unless they happen to be history buffs obsessed with early 1900s France, readers will certainly walk away with a new knowledge of the beginnings of a system now taken for granted.
While the complex and realistically flawed characters are the book’s greatest strength, though, my unease with Saint-Exupéry’s romance plot - a long, unrequited love for a woman called Lou-Lou who breaks off their engagement in his youth - never went away. It was evident that Iturbide was attempting to make a point about deep, unrequited feelings and the nature of loving and being loved, but in practice Saint-Exupéry is hopelessly hung up on a woman who has long ago rejected him, one who he continues to pursue after her own marriage. Though he eventually reflects fondly on how much happiness loving her has brought to his life, his many depressive episodes and inability to find other fulfilling relationships while thinking of her say otherwise. More importantly, the storyline perpetuates an idea of obsessive, one-sided love as romantic instead of disturbing and harmful to both parties.
Despite this, Iturbide and Thwaites weave a skilled narrative and solid read. For those willing to take on the somewhat daunting length, The Prince of the Skies is a beautifully written and atmospheric journey through French aviation as seen through the eyes of three vastly different men: the dreamer, the celebrity, and the steady friend, united by their love of the skies and their dedication to the extraordinary.
Writer Antonio Iturbide and translator Lilit Thwaites combine their talents in the quiet and yet sweeping tale of friendship, purpose, and change that is The Prince of the Skies. Long before writing The Little Prince, Antoine Saint-Exupéry is an aviator whose love of flying is matched only by his hopeless inability to adhere to the rules of a strict military environment. After crashing a biplane on a Sunday-afternoon impulse-flight, his discharge from the military sets off a chain of events that leads him to France’s quickly expanding airmail industry and to two other aviators, Henri Gaillaumet and Jean Mermoz, who will become his closest friends. Together, the three men navigate the turbulent waters of 1920s and ‘30s France through the prestige and expansion of airmail, ever-strained relationships with those they leave behind on the ground, and eventual descent into World War II.
In many ways, The Prince of the Skies felt like one long, incredibly complex character study. By the end of the book, the reader knows Saint-Exupéry in a thousand different facets: a daydreamer, a writer never satisfied with what he writes, a steadfast and genuine presence to his friends who is simultaneously unable to adhere to any semblance of the routines of an ordinary life. Iturbide certainly does not shy away from his flaws, but the picture painted of him over the novel’s 500-plus pages is so thorough and intimate that it is impossible not to feel deeply connected to the eccentric writer by the final pages. Though the book does not reach quite as much depth of character with Mermoz or Guillaumet, the charisma and brazenness of the former combined with the steady and unflappable nature of the latter bring a balance to the book’s main cast.
The pacing and storylines may be the novel’s most masterful stroke, as their lack of direction and driving force would fall flat in nearly any other book. In The Prince of the Skies, though, they feel realistic in that they truly tell a life story without tidy middles and endings. The main cast are in a constant process of moving on, discovering, and reinventing themselves, and so much changes around the characters that by the final pages the reader feels they have lived their entire lives right there beside them. However, such depth is not achieved without tradeoffs - the book is over 500 pages, and, strictly speaking, it would be difficult to describe a plot. The book has a distinct pull, but it is not what one would call a page-turner.
Besides being an intricate character study, The Prince of the Skies is also a deep dive into aviation into the early 1900s and the evolution of early airmail routes. The book encompasses not only a fascinating slew of technical details but the quintessential experience of aviators in a time when each flight was a serious gamble: the genuine love of flying that ensured they couldn’t live without the incredibly dangerous occupation. Unless they happen to be history buffs obsessed with early 1900s France, readers will certainly walk away with a new knowledge of the beginnings of a system now taken for granted.
While the complex and realistically flawed characters are the book’s greatest strength, though, my unease with Saint-Exupéry’s romance plot - a long, unrequited love for a woman called Lou-Lou who breaks off their engagement in his youth - never went away. It was evident that Iturbide was attempting to make a point about deep, unrequited feelings and the nature of loving and being loved, but in practice Saint-Exupéry is hopelessly hung up on a woman who has long ago rejected him, one who he continues to pursue after her own marriage. Though he eventually reflects fondly on how much happiness loving her has brought to his life, his many depressive episodes and inability to find other fulfilling relationships while thinking of her say otherwise. More importantly, the storyline perpetuates an idea of obsessive, one-sided love as romantic instead of disturbing and harmful to both parties.
Despite this, Iturbide and Thwaites weave a skilled narrative and solid read. For those willing to take on the somewhat daunting length, The Prince of the Skies is a beautifully written and atmospheric journey through French aviation as seen through the eyes of three vastly different men: the dreamer, the celebrity, and the steady friend, united by their love of the skies and their dedication to the extraordinary.
October 19, 2021
Epic. Emotional. Thrilling! Wow! What a read this has been!! I loved The Librarian of Auschwitz so have been so eager to read this book and it has not disappointed!
This is the story of the author of The Little Prince (another favourite read of mine!) and his story has all the elements needed for an astonishing story. This is a man who was born to fly! And his dreams came true but didn't run smoothly, and that adds to the drama throughout.
The author does a brilliant job of capturing the essence of a man who was completely driven in his quest to be in the skies. He also showed how much writing meant to him, but flying was his true passion. It charts his exploits from the beginning of his flying career - the good and bad! - alongside his personal life which was never the easiest.
Alongside his story, we also get the story of his 2 closest friends, Henri and Jean, and I loved how they were all such different characters but bonded over their love of flying. That's when they were all at their happiest! It charts some very distressing, dark times for them all but there was always that hope in them that things would come right. They flew all over the world, facing new challenges along the way but never being disheartened when all went wrong.
I got totally caught up with the lives of these men! It is one of those books that is full of adventure and action, but showed their real characters too when their feet were on the ground and the issues they faced both professionally and personally. Their lives were anything but dull!!
A true delight to read! It is exhilarating, magical and an incredible story! A must read and one of my books of 2021!!
This is the story of the author of The Little Prince (another favourite read of mine!) and his story has all the elements needed for an astonishing story. This is a man who was born to fly! And his dreams came true but didn't run smoothly, and that adds to the drama throughout.
The author does a brilliant job of capturing the essence of a man who was completely driven in his quest to be in the skies. He also showed how much writing meant to him, but flying was his true passion. It charts his exploits from the beginning of his flying career - the good and bad! - alongside his personal life which was never the easiest.
Alongside his story, we also get the story of his 2 closest friends, Henri and Jean, and I loved how they were all such different characters but bonded over their love of flying. That's when they were all at their happiest! It charts some very distressing, dark times for them all but there was always that hope in them that things would come right. They flew all over the world, facing new challenges along the way but never being disheartened when all went wrong.
I got totally caught up with the lives of these men! It is one of those books that is full of adventure and action, but showed their real characters too when their feet were on the ground and the issues they faced both professionally and personally. Their lives were anything but dull!!
A true delight to read! It is exhilarating, magical and an incredible story! A must read and one of my books of 2021!!
February 13, 2025
“They have named him Chevalier de la Legion. But when he’s up in the skies, honors from Paris are as useless as a flute with no holes” (263)
The Prince of the Skies claims to be a book about the life of Antoine de Saint Exupery, the acclaimed author of children’s classic, “The Little Prince.” Yet, this novel is in actuality, a story of three men: Antoine de Saint Exupery, Henry Guillemant, and Jean Mermoz, three men who pioneered the worldwide air postal service and risked their lives in unreliable aircraft to push their way across the mountains, valleys, and oceans that separated people and their letters.
These men did so not for the honor, not for the fame, but for the mere thrill of flying. This book serves as a love letter to that thrill for flight, the new and undiscovered, the risky and dangerous. I would highly recommend it in a world where too often, we fear to risk, for fear that we will lose everything. However as these men proved with their lives, sometimes a life without risk is not worth living.
The Prince of the Skies claims to be a book about the life of Antoine de Saint Exupery, the acclaimed author of children’s classic, “The Little Prince.” Yet, this novel is in actuality, a story of three men: Antoine de Saint Exupery, Henry Guillemant, and Jean Mermoz, three men who pioneered the worldwide air postal service and risked their lives in unreliable aircraft to push their way across the mountains, valleys, and oceans that separated people and their letters.
These men did so not for the honor, not for the fame, but for the mere thrill of flying. This book serves as a love letter to that thrill for flight, the new and undiscovered, the risky and dangerous. I would highly recommend it in a world where too often, we fear to risk, for fear that we will lose everything. However as these men proved with their lives, sometimes a life without risk is not worth living.
October 21, 2021
This is such a beautiful book, inside and out.
I loved the writing style and the authors portray of the characters and the events.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the experiences of the men and learning about the journey the faced. I especially enjoyed Antoine’s life as a pilot and as someone I luck in love.
A fascinating novel which I would recommend to any historical fiction/non-fiction fan.
I loved the writing style and the authors portray of the characters and the events.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the experiences of the men and learning about the journey the faced. I especially enjoyed Antoine’s life as a pilot and as someone I luck in love.
A fascinating novel which I would recommend to any historical fiction/non-fiction fan.
July 20, 2021
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe
📓Genre: Historical Fiction
Star: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4.8 stars rounded to 5 stars)
🔖 This is an incredible tale of the life and times of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – a brilliant and brave pilot who eventually gained fame and popularity as the writer of the immensely loved children's story, 'The Little Prince'.
🔖The book primarily highlights the events before Antoine de Saint-Exupéry become the renowned writer. But the novel is not exactly biographical. It's way more than that!
🔖The author has given a detailed account of how the courage shown by young pilots of that era like Antoine, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet – helped in establishing and widening the official ariel postal routes of that time.
🔖The narrative is descriptive, engaging and even heart-breaking at times – since it depicts a period of history where war ravaged innumerable families, dreams and lives.
🔖The rich history of aviation, the unsung tales of bravery, courage and friendship – all find a place in this beautiful book.
🔖What truly touched me was the lucid style of writing. It was quite fascinating to be able to connect the dots between the tale of 'The Little Prince' and it's creator's own personal experiences.
🔖Since I've always loved the deeply-layered tale of the 'prince who lived on asteroid B612' – reading this book made me a bit nostalgic.
🔖Through the eyes of its three protagonists – this book narrates a thrilling and adventurous tale of exploration, courage and the will to chase one's dreams.
🔖I loved the whole of it and totally recommend it to all readers!
🔸Final Verdict: Brilliant
🔸Book Cover: The cover is beautiful. It was the first thing that caught my attention.
🔸Writing Style: Captivating
🔸Character Development: Good
✨Many thanks to Pan Macmillan (Publisher) and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
#ThePrinceoftheSkies #NetGalley #arc #bookreview
📓Genre: Historical Fiction
Star: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4.8 stars rounded to 5 stars)
🔖 This is an incredible tale of the life and times of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – a brilliant and brave pilot who eventually gained fame and popularity as the writer of the immensely loved children's story, 'The Little Prince'.
🔖The book primarily highlights the events before Antoine de Saint-Exupéry become the renowned writer. But the novel is not exactly biographical. It's way more than that!
🔖The author has given a detailed account of how the courage shown by young pilots of that era like Antoine, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet – helped in establishing and widening the official ariel postal routes of that time.
🔖The narrative is descriptive, engaging and even heart-breaking at times – since it depicts a period of history where war ravaged innumerable families, dreams and lives.
🔖The rich history of aviation, the unsung tales of bravery, courage and friendship – all find a place in this beautiful book.
🔖What truly touched me was the lucid style of writing. It was quite fascinating to be able to connect the dots between the tale of 'The Little Prince' and it's creator's own personal experiences.
🔖Since I've always loved the deeply-layered tale of the 'prince who lived on asteroid B612' – reading this book made me a bit nostalgic.
🔖Through the eyes of its three protagonists – this book narrates a thrilling and adventurous tale of exploration, courage and the will to chase one's dreams.
🔖I loved the whole of it and totally recommend it to all readers!
🔸Final Verdict: Brilliant
🔸Book Cover: The cover is beautiful. It was the first thing that caught my attention.
🔸Writing Style: Captivating
🔸Character Development: Good
✨Many thanks to Pan Macmillan (Publisher) and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
#ThePrinceoftheSkies #NetGalley #arc #bookreview
July 28, 2025
Gostei muito de ler o livro "A Céu Aberto", do escritor espanhol Antonio Iturbe, que narra a história da aviação civil francesa nos anos de 1920 a 1944, em particular a dos pilotos Jean Mermoz, Henri Guillaumet e Antoine de Saint-Éxupery, que juntamente com muitos outros, arriscaram as suas vidas para abrirem as primeiras rotas do transporte aéreo de correio de Toulouse a Málaga, atravessando os Pirenéus, de Toulouse a Casablanca e desta cidade a Dakar, sobrevoando o deserto do Saara, da Argentina ao Chile, passando a cordilheira dos Andes e, posteriormente, de Dakar a Natal, no Brasil, desbravando a longa distância entre dois continentes e perante a solidão da travessia do oceano Atlântico.
Voaram em aviões frágeis e rudimentares, inicialmente sozinhos, sem meios de comunicação e de navegação, e enfrentando temperaturas negativas extremas.
Mas foi graças à sua persistência e resistência, que o correio aéreo se impôs e permitiu que as cartas e as encomendas circulassem com maior celeridade e unissem familiares e amigos que estavam separados em distintas regiões do globo.
O livro está muito bem escrito, descreve com realismo as viagens aéreas, a geografia dos territórios sobrevoados, a vida dos pilotos em terra e, também, os acontecimentos históricos que marcaram o período entre as duas grandes guerras mundiais do século XX, bem como a derrota e ocupação da França pelo regime alemão nazista em 1940, e os voos arriscados de reconhecimento pelos Aliados dos territórios europeus dominados pelo primeiro.
"A Céu Aberto" é um livro ainda mais interessante, por dar-nos a conhecer a vida e obra do aviador e escritor Antoine de Saint-Éxupery, mundialmente conhecido por ter escrito "O Principezinho".
Aquele era um homem sonhador, apaixonado pela vida e pelos seus prazeres, que gostava de escrever e de desenhar, mas mais do que tudo, o que o fazia feliz era voar. Contudo, era acometido com alguma frequência por melancolia, como acontece aos seres mais sensíveis.
Foi um gosto percorrer as páginas deste livro e descobrir as histórias por detrás dos livros escritos por Saint-Éxupery, o que me suscitou curiosidade de ler outros livros deste autor, para além do aclamado "O Principezinho".
O escritor espanhol Antonio Iturbe está de parabéns por esta obra, a qual me fez acreditar que mesmo nos tempos mais sombrios da Humanidade, há esperança porque a coragem e a bondade de uns poucos conseguem persistir perante a maldade e a indiferença da maioria.
Voaram em aviões frágeis e rudimentares, inicialmente sozinhos, sem meios de comunicação e de navegação, e enfrentando temperaturas negativas extremas.
Mas foi graças à sua persistência e resistência, que o correio aéreo se impôs e permitiu que as cartas e as encomendas circulassem com maior celeridade e unissem familiares e amigos que estavam separados em distintas regiões do globo.
O livro está muito bem escrito, descreve com realismo as viagens aéreas, a geografia dos territórios sobrevoados, a vida dos pilotos em terra e, também, os acontecimentos históricos que marcaram o período entre as duas grandes guerras mundiais do século XX, bem como a derrota e ocupação da França pelo regime alemão nazista em 1940, e os voos arriscados de reconhecimento pelos Aliados dos territórios europeus dominados pelo primeiro.
"A Céu Aberto" é um livro ainda mais interessante, por dar-nos a conhecer a vida e obra do aviador e escritor Antoine de Saint-Éxupery, mundialmente conhecido por ter escrito "O Principezinho".
Aquele era um homem sonhador, apaixonado pela vida e pelos seus prazeres, que gostava de escrever e de desenhar, mas mais do que tudo, o que o fazia feliz era voar. Contudo, era acometido com alguma frequência por melancolia, como acontece aos seres mais sensíveis.
Foi um gosto percorrer as páginas deste livro e descobrir as histórias por detrás dos livros escritos por Saint-Éxupery, o que me suscitou curiosidade de ler outros livros deste autor, para além do aclamado "O Principezinho".
O escritor espanhol Antonio Iturbe está de parabéns por esta obra, a qual me fez acreditar que mesmo nos tempos mais sombrios da Humanidade, há esperança porque a coragem e a bondade de uns poucos conseguem persistir perante a maldade e a indiferença da maioria.
October 25, 2021
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is one of those classics children’s books that stands the test of time. In The Prince of of the Skies Antonio Iturbe looks into the extraordinary life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and two of his friends, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet, who were pilots with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and put themselves in danger everyday. This maybe a fiction book but it really captures the essence of Antoine, his passions, his writing and his desire for the skies.
To say this is an epic read is and understatement, we are taken from the early 1920’s, a time of excess and fun post World War I, throught the 1930’s to the 1940’s and the War years again, through the eyes of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Antoine was a Compte by birth but there was no more money to fund the estate so both him and his mother need to work. Antoine has three passions in his life, his writing, flying and Louise de Vilmorin, the sister of his friend, and all these consume his life, but not all are successful. He is constantly writing on whatever he has at hand, combining storytelling and his adventures as a pilot. Whilst his writing is successful his love life is more erratic, Antoine wants the ideal of love that doesn’t exist, and I think is someone who is in love with the idea of being in love. He starts his flying in the French Air Force, but after a short time away goes into the private sector to work with the Aéropostal, flying letters around France, Europe, Africa and eventually even South America. Jean Mormoz and Hernri Guillaumet also fly with the Aéropostal and between the three of them they are innovators in the field of flying, pushing the boundaries of what the planes and pilots are capable of. Antoine Iturbe captures the essence of these men, their exuberance, their passion for life and women.
Antonio Iturbe’s prose is poetic and the translation by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites is wonderful and captures the magic of the origional text. This is a real adreniline rush of a book in parts, with the adventure and danger of being a pilot, and taking the reader from France to Morocco, Syria, Brazil, America and Senegal. I was fascinated in the development of the Aèropostal, delivering mail across continents, something we take for granted today, and of the aircraft used which were open cockpit leaving pilot exposed to the elements, and very basic. Antonio Turbe really captures the danger of these flights and the zeitgeist of the years between the two World Wars, the excesses of post war and the fear of World War II.
The Prince of the Skies is an amazing read about three extraordinary men. I loved learning more about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, his life, his loves and how these inspired his writing, and ultimately The Little Prince. This a truely powerful and epic read, crossing continents and going to new heights in the name of aviation, and detailing the bravery of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Beautifully written, this is a stunning and inspirational read.
To say this is an epic read is and understatement, we are taken from the early 1920’s, a time of excess and fun post World War I, throught the 1930’s to the 1940’s and the War years again, through the eyes of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Antoine was a Compte by birth but there was no more money to fund the estate so both him and his mother need to work. Antoine has three passions in his life, his writing, flying and Louise de Vilmorin, the sister of his friend, and all these consume his life, but not all are successful. He is constantly writing on whatever he has at hand, combining storytelling and his adventures as a pilot. Whilst his writing is successful his love life is more erratic, Antoine wants the ideal of love that doesn’t exist, and I think is someone who is in love with the idea of being in love. He starts his flying in the French Air Force, but after a short time away goes into the private sector to work with the Aéropostal, flying letters around France, Europe, Africa and eventually even South America. Jean Mormoz and Hernri Guillaumet also fly with the Aéropostal and between the three of them they are innovators in the field of flying, pushing the boundaries of what the planes and pilots are capable of. Antoine Iturbe captures the essence of these men, their exuberance, their passion for life and women.
Antonio Iturbe’s prose is poetic and the translation by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites is wonderful and captures the magic of the origional text. This is a real adreniline rush of a book in parts, with the adventure and danger of being a pilot, and taking the reader from France to Morocco, Syria, Brazil, America and Senegal. I was fascinated in the development of the Aèropostal, delivering mail across continents, something we take for granted today, and of the aircraft used which were open cockpit leaving pilot exposed to the elements, and very basic. Antonio Turbe really captures the danger of these flights and the zeitgeist of the years between the two World Wars, the excesses of post war and the fear of World War II.
The Prince of the Skies is an amazing read about three extraordinary men. I loved learning more about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, his life, his loves and how these inspired his writing, and ultimately The Little Prince. This a truely powerful and epic read, crossing continents and going to new heights in the name of aviation, and detailing the bravery of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Beautifully written, this is a stunning and inspirational read.
October 30, 2021
Great story about Antoine De Saint Expery, and his aviation partners Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet. we all remember Antoine as the author of The Little Prince, but I really didn't know anything more about him and his life.
The Prince of the skies shows us another side of Antoine, especially his days in the aviation, and how he somehow was the one who helped many postal routes to open such as the African and South America route, where he will meet many of the most interesting characters of this story as well as love and beautiful women.
Antoine shows us in the prince of the skies the unite, the friendship he and his closest colleagues had, and the many burdens and problems aviation had at those times but how Antoine always had a great attitude and solution for any of these problems such as some of his superiors constant negatives for him to move forward as a great aviator.
Antoine's love for aviation was immense it was his world, his everything until he had to choose between love and the love of his life Aviation. I really didn't like Louise de Vilmorin's character since the very first moment we meet her she is superficial and very naive. I really dislike how she played so much with Antoine's feelings, she cared more about money and society and she constantly made him feel like he was less than her.
The secondary characters are great, you will have the chance to learn more about Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet. two amazing characters that brought so much to Antoine's life.
The Prince of the skies will take you on a journey that will make you feel like you're the one flying the airplane and taking the precious cargo across the ocean, it is written in such a way that it feels like you're in a movie, like you're one of the main characters
The Narrations by Simon Bubb were amazing, I really enjoyed so much the way he brought the story and the characters to life, he really made me feel like I was another character of this magnificent book
This was a great book, I really enjoy it, I recommend it if you're looking for something that will take your mind far away and will make you feel like you're in a beautiful movie watching all these scenarios and characters come alive.
The Prince of the skies shows us another side of Antoine, especially his days in the aviation, and how he somehow was the one who helped many postal routes to open such as the African and South America route, where he will meet many of the most interesting characters of this story as well as love and beautiful women.
Antoine shows us in the prince of the skies the unite, the friendship he and his closest colleagues had, and the many burdens and problems aviation had at those times but how Antoine always had a great attitude and solution for any of these problems such as some of his superiors constant negatives for him to move forward as a great aviator.
Antoine's love for aviation was immense it was his world, his everything until he had to choose between love and the love of his life Aviation. I really didn't like Louise de Vilmorin's character since the very first moment we meet her she is superficial and very naive. I really dislike how she played so much with Antoine's feelings, she cared more about money and society and she constantly made him feel like he was less than her.
The secondary characters are great, you will have the chance to learn more about Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet. two amazing characters that brought so much to Antoine's life.
The Prince of the skies will take you on a journey that will make you feel like you're the one flying the airplane and taking the precious cargo across the ocean, it is written in such a way that it feels like you're in a movie, like you're one of the main characters
The Narrations by Simon Bubb were amazing, I really enjoyed so much the way he brought the story and the characters to life, he really made me feel like I was another character of this magnificent book
This was a great book, I really enjoy it, I recommend it if you're looking for something that will take your mind far away and will make you feel like you're in a beautiful movie watching all these scenarios and characters come alive.
October 14, 2021
My Rating - 4.5*
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe publishes today, October 14th, with Pan Macmillan. Described as ‘a moving tale of love and friendship, war and heroism, and the power of the written word', it has been excellently translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites.
I have often said that translated work has opened up a whole new world of literature to me and The Prince of the Skies is a perfect example of this. Ashamedly, I have to admit, that I have never read The Little Prince. It was just never a book I came across growing up, only really coming into my radar in recent years. I have rectified this though as I have ordered a copy which will very soon be in my hands.
The Prince of the Skies is an utterly fascinating insight into the phenomenal life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Born into an aristocratic family in Lyon in the1900s, Saint-Exupéry developed an early passion for flying. His father passed away when he was young and his mother did her best to raise her five children but money was tight. With his title and his accent, Saint-Exupéry struggled at times to fit in, especially during his years in the military where he completed his compulsory service. Where Saint-Exupéry really fitted in was up in the clouds and in the 1920s, during his military service, he got to finally fulfil his ambition of flying solo and gaining experience. But flying wasn’t his only passion as Saint-Exupéry loved to write. Never alone, with his imagination always active, Saint-Exupéry wanted to convey his words to a greater audience but he was his own biggest critic, always tearing up a huge percentage of his work, never satisfied that it was good enough. He fell deeply in love with Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin but her family never encouraged their relationship. After a flying accident that resulted in him being hospitalised, she gave him an ultimatum – his flying or their relationship. He chose his Lou-Lou, but it was an engagement that was never to last.
Saint-Exupéry sought solace again in flying, becoming part of a brave and extremely courageous group of aviators who worked for Aéropostale, the newly established French air mail service. It was here that he made a lifelong friendship with two pilots, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet. Antonio Iturbe brings to life the insanity and chaotic nature of the world that these men inhabited. With their lives constantly in danger, the pilots of Aéropostale were adrenalin junkies, fearless, reckless individuals who took daily risks as they opened up new postal routes across continents. Flying in treacherous conditions Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz and Guillaumet shared an extraordinary bond with an equal excitement for pushing the boundaries of flight and being prepared to sacrifice so much for a letter to reach its final destination faster. They were explorers of the sky, heroes all, with a tenacious and gutsy attitude that drove them further every time.
In The Prince of the Skies Antonio Iturbe explores in depth Saint-Exupéry’s relationship with the women he loved, the extravagant lifestyle he lived and his role in the Second World War. Mermoz’s and Guillaumet’s lives are also delved into, giving the reader a real feel for the daring nature of these men. During these years Saint-Exupéry did manage to establish himself as a writer, winning many awards both at home in France and overseas. With the onset of the Second World War, circumstances changed for all three men and eventually too for Aéropostale. With the world in turmoil, all three pilots had different loyalties and views, but their friendship was always strong….until the end.
The Prince of the Skies is primarily written in the present tense which does take time to get your head around but, once you get past this, you will be slowly pulled into this unbelievable tale. There is the most beautiful part in the book where Didier Daurat, the manager of Aéropostale, really encapsulates these brave men in their flying machines –
“They lived each year as if it were ten. They conquered their fears, they reached amazing places where no one had been before, they overcame challenges that seemed impossible, they sacrificed themselves so that people could receive their mail in remote places. I don’t know if it was worth it, but I’m certain of one thing, they made their lives extraordinary”
From the streets of Paris, to North Africa, South America and beyond The Prince of the Skies is an epic and powerful adventure. Today it is very difficult to comprehend the conditions of flying during the first half of the twentieth century. The dedication of these pioneering aviators, male and female, who took to the skies, constantly pushing the boundaries should never be forgotten. Antonio Iturbe has created a magical piece of writing, one that I highly recommend to all who want to know more about these intrepid adventurers and to also discover more about the man behind that classic tale The Little Prince.
Compelling. Captivating. Spellbinding.
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe publishes today, October 14th, with Pan Macmillan. Described as ‘a moving tale of love and friendship, war and heroism, and the power of the written word', it has been excellently translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites.
I have often said that translated work has opened up a whole new world of literature to me and The Prince of the Skies is a perfect example of this. Ashamedly, I have to admit, that I have never read The Little Prince. It was just never a book I came across growing up, only really coming into my radar in recent years. I have rectified this though as I have ordered a copy which will very soon be in my hands.
The Prince of the Skies is an utterly fascinating insight into the phenomenal life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Born into an aristocratic family in Lyon in the1900s, Saint-Exupéry developed an early passion for flying. His father passed away when he was young and his mother did her best to raise her five children but money was tight. With his title and his accent, Saint-Exupéry struggled at times to fit in, especially during his years in the military where he completed his compulsory service. Where Saint-Exupéry really fitted in was up in the clouds and in the 1920s, during his military service, he got to finally fulfil his ambition of flying solo and gaining experience. But flying wasn’t his only passion as Saint-Exupéry loved to write. Never alone, with his imagination always active, Saint-Exupéry wanted to convey his words to a greater audience but he was his own biggest critic, always tearing up a huge percentage of his work, never satisfied that it was good enough. He fell deeply in love with Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin but her family never encouraged their relationship. After a flying accident that resulted in him being hospitalised, she gave him an ultimatum – his flying or their relationship. He chose his Lou-Lou, but it was an engagement that was never to last.
Saint-Exupéry sought solace again in flying, becoming part of a brave and extremely courageous group of aviators who worked for Aéropostale, the newly established French air mail service. It was here that he made a lifelong friendship with two pilots, Jean Mermoz and Henri Guillaumet. Antonio Iturbe brings to life the insanity and chaotic nature of the world that these men inhabited. With their lives constantly in danger, the pilots of Aéropostale were adrenalin junkies, fearless, reckless individuals who took daily risks as they opened up new postal routes across continents. Flying in treacherous conditions Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz and Guillaumet shared an extraordinary bond with an equal excitement for pushing the boundaries of flight and being prepared to sacrifice so much for a letter to reach its final destination faster. They were explorers of the sky, heroes all, with a tenacious and gutsy attitude that drove them further every time.
In The Prince of the Skies Antonio Iturbe explores in depth Saint-Exupéry’s relationship with the women he loved, the extravagant lifestyle he lived and his role in the Second World War. Mermoz’s and Guillaumet’s lives are also delved into, giving the reader a real feel for the daring nature of these men. During these years Saint-Exupéry did manage to establish himself as a writer, winning many awards both at home in France and overseas. With the onset of the Second World War, circumstances changed for all three men and eventually too for Aéropostale. With the world in turmoil, all three pilots had different loyalties and views, but their friendship was always strong….until the end.
The Prince of the Skies is primarily written in the present tense which does take time to get your head around but, once you get past this, you will be slowly pulled into this unbelievable tale. There is the most beautiful part in the book where Didier Daurat, the manager of Aéropostale, really encapsulates these brave men in their flying machines –
“They lived each year as if it were ten. They conquered their fears, they reached amazing places where no one had been before, they overcame challenges that seemed impossible, they sacrificed themselves so that people could receive their mail in remote places. I don’t know if it was worth it, but I’m certain of one thing, they made their lives extraordinary”
From the streets of Paris, to North Africa, South America and beyond The Prince of the Skies is an epic and powerful adventure. Today it is very difficult to comprehend the conditions of flying during the first half of the twentieth century. The dedication of these pioneering aviators, male and female, who took to the skies, constantly pushing the boundaries should never be forgotten. Antonio Iturbe has created a magical piece of writing, one that I highly recommend to all who want to know more about these intrepid adventurers and to also discover more about the man behind that classic tale The Little Prince.
Compelling. Captivating. Spellbinding.
October 20, 2021
‘The Prince of the Skies’ is a enthralling, magical tale that weaves the story of Antoine de Saint-Exupér, the author of the Little Prince and aviator extraordinaire, with that of the history of the period. Despite being a Count Antoine comes from humble beginning and finds the joy of the flying whilst in the military forces. He dances through the air, practicing tricks, flying to the limits of his aircraft. But at the same time he falls in love with a rich girl called Lou-Lou who insists he give up flying. Eventually, he returns to his passion and helps to create ‘par Avion where he literally flies to the ends of the world to give people their mail.
The author has such a way with words that is breathtaking. It's stunning in its descriptions, the visual layers it places in your imagination is exquisite. He really does manage to convey the excitement and magic of flying. Some of my favourite scenes were when the Sheikh was up in the air and the delivery of mail to the old woman at the bottom of the world.
The emotion that came through was something special, pure and wonderful.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Considering this was Antoine’s story I was just as captivated with Henri and Mendoza’s tales as well. Three very different characters but ones when they come together created a wonderfully rich narrative. I had absolutely no knowledge of Antoine’s life before reading this book but this is one of the reasons why reading historical fiction is so joyful as it's illuminating and educational. Especially, in this case with the biographical elements of his life.
Don't hesitate with giving this one a chance as it's beautiful.
The author has such a way with words that is breathtaking. It's stunning in its descriptions, the visual layers it places in your imagination is exquisite. He really does manage to convey the excitement and magic of flying. Some of my favourite scenes were when the Sheikh was up in the air and the delivery of mail to the old woman at the bottom of the world.
The emotion that came through was something special, pure and wonderful.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Considering this was Antoine’s story I was just as captivated with Henri and Mendoza’s tales as well. Three very different characters but ones when they come together created a wonderfully rich narrative. I had absolutely no knowledge of Antoine’s life before reading this book but this is one of the reasons why reading historical fiction is so joyful as it's illuminating and educational. Especially, in this case with the biographical elements of his life.
Don't hesitate with giving this one a chance as it's beautiful.
June 8, 2022
On paper, I should have loved this book. It covers some of my favorite things: pilots, the early days of aviation, even France and French history. But sadly, this book is so long and boring. It takes three very interesting aviators and focuses more on their womanizing and romantic notions rather than their involvement in the early days of French aviation or other key moments of their lives. There is an entire chapter devoted to Saint-Exupéry’s convincing a mechanic to leave his fiancée and pursue a nurse he met in the hospital…but less than 4 pages devoted to his famous crash in the Libyan desert and rescue by a Bedouin. The Little Prince is barely mentioned and only in passing, yet numerous chapters are devoted entirely to his failing marriage. The three main characters are very flat and their characterization gets repetitive, as well as their life stories. There is such an interesting bit of history here that this book barely touches on. I am surprised it is so highly rated on Goodreads, although I must admit that the ending did tug at my heart strings a bit.
October 2, 2017
¡Que gran aventura! La devoré de principio a fin. Hace mucho que no me picaba de esa manera con un libro, 622 páginas en una semana. Me costaron trabajo las últimas páginas porque tenía nostalgia anticipada de ya no leer / ver más a mis tres aviadores (si, me los apropié).
Me encantó aprender la historia de la aviación y un poco sobre su papel en las dos guerras mundiales llevada de la mano por personajes de lujo. Cada dos o tres capítulos, me encontraba googleado algún modelo de avión que mencionaban para verlo e imaginarlo correctamente.
Finalmente, ir encontrando fragmentos de vida de Saint-Exupery que se ven reflejados en "El Principito", es un viaje a este libro entrañable de infancia. Quiero volver a leerlo ahora que he terminado "A cielo abierto".
Muy recomendable.
Me encantó aprender la historia de la aviación y un poco sobre su papel en las dos guerras mundiales llevada de la mano por personajes de lujo. Cada dos o tres capítulos, me encontraba googleado algún modelo de avión que mencionaban para verlo e imaginarlo correctamente.
Finalmente, ir encontrando fragmentos de vida de Saint-Exupery que se ven reflejados en "El Principito", es un viaje a este libro entrañable de infancia. Quiero volver a leerlo ahora que he terminado "A cielo abierto".
Muy recomendable.
October 18, 2021
Review first published on my blog: http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/202...
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a true example of a literary classic. Even nearly 80 years after publication it resonates with audiences in its original written form and in the countless adaptations that have been created since. For a novella that is often billed as a children's book, it has surprising adult and deep themes, centred around friendship, loss, and loneliness. Themes that run through the author's own life too.
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe, the writer acclaimed for historical fiction novel The Librarian of Auschwitz, delves into the fascinating life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, or Saint-Ex as his friends called him. The famous tale of the little caped prince is alluded to throughout this historical tome, but it's more a whisper than a detailed account of its creation.
Instead this is the story of the friendship between Saint-Ex, Jean Mermoz, and Henri Guillaumet; three aviators pivotal to the creation of global flight paths in their work for French postal service Aéropostale in the first half of the 20th century. Their passion and sheer determination for flying made these three men true pioneers – and heroes.
Flying has become so commonplace these days that it's easy to forget that there were people who had to map out routes; through storms, over mountain ranges and oceans, and through previously inaccessible parts of the world. They risked their lives in tiny planes unlike anything we are used to and set up the routes that are so established these days.
It's a remarkable feat when a novel can marry fact and fiction in such as seamless way that the reader doesn't know where one begins and the other ends. And The Prince of the Skies is a prime example of this. While some of the story certainly must be fictionalised due to lack of records, or for dramatic purposes, Saint-Ex, Mermoz, and Guillaumet feel so realistic – they practically leap of the pages. Their lives, particularly those rare moments when they intertwine, are so incredibly compelling that the reader genuinely starts caring for the fates of these heroic people, flaws and all, and wishing for their inevitable stories to come to a different ending, even though history has taught us otherwise.
Before reading this novel I did not have a particular interest in aviation, but Iturbe's engrossing storytelling and the characters' love for flying are contagious from the very first chapter; I could feel the excitement at the edges of the pages when a new flight model was tested and an experimental route turned into a victory. It's a remarkable part of history, and it deserves the spotlight this novel shines on it. The book is incredibly well-researched, and the admiration for these historical figures is palpable throughout.
It's a wonderful thing when a novel brings a not often merited part of history to the foreground. And when it's done in such an accomplished way as it has been in The Prince of the Skies, you truly have something magical.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a true example of a literary classic. Even nearly 80 years after publication it resonates with audiences in its original written form and in the countless adaptations that have been created since. For a novella that is often billed as a children's book, it has surprising adult and deep themes, centred around friendship, loss, and loneliness. Themes that run through the author's own life too.
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe, the writer acclaimed for historical fiction novel The Librarian of Auschwitz, delves into the fascinating life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, or Saint-Ex as his friends called him. The famous tale of the little caped prince is alluded to throughout this historical tome, but it's more a whisper than a detailed account of its creation.
Instead this is the story of the friendship between Saint-Ex, Jean Mermoz, and Henri Guillaumet; three aviators pivotal to the creation of global flight paths in their work for French postal service Aéropostale in the first half of the 20th century. Their passion and sheer determination for flying made these three men true pioneers – and heroes.
Flying has become so commonplace these days that it's easy to forget that there were people who had to map out routes; through storms, over mountain ranges and oceans, and through previously inaccessible parts of the world. They risked their lives in tiny planes unlike anything we are used to and set up the routes that are so established these days.
It's a remarkable feat when a novel can marry fact and fiction in such as seamless way that the reader doesn't know where one begins and the other ends. And The Prince of the Skies is a prime example of this. While some of the story certainly must be fictionalised due to lack of records, or for dramatic purposes, Saint-Ex, Mermoz, and Guillaumet feel so realistic – they practically leap of the pages. Their lives, particularly those rare moments when they intertwine, are so incredibly compelling that the reader genuinely starts caring for the fates of these heroic people, flaws and all, and wishing for their inevitable stories to come to a different ending, even though history has taught us otherwise.
Before reading this novel I did not have a particular interest in aviation, but Iturbe's engrossing storytelling and the characters' love for flying are contagious from the very first chapter; I could feel the excitement at the edges of the pages when a new flight model was tested and an experimental route turned into a victory. It's a remarkable part of history, and it deserves the spotlight this novel shines on it. The book is incredibly well-researched, and the admiration for these historical figures is palpable throughout.
It's a wonderful thing when a novel brings a not often merited part of history to the foreground. And when it's done in such an accomplished way as it has been in The Prince of the Skies, you truly have something magical.
October 21, 2021
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry will be remembered in the history of literature as the writer of The Little Prince, but what else do we know about him? The Prince of the Skies by the bestseller Spanish author Antonio Iturbe, translated from Spanish by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites offers a different perspective into his life, both from the personal and professional point of view.
´But I´m not a celebrity, I´m a pilot´.
Indeed, Saint-Exupéry was a pilot, first and foremost. His aristocratic family - the ´de´ from his name was genuine and he spent his childhood in a castle - discouraged such endeavours, but his love for the freedom allowed by the skies was stronger than anything. Even stronger than love. At the time when he started his training, at the beginning of the 20th century, being a pilot was not as fancy as it turned to be just a couple of decades later, when royalties like the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, the Shah of Iran or the King of Jordan added piloting among their regular passions.
The historical reconstruction of the life of Saint-Exupéry touches upon other famous French pilots, like Mermoz, who also died in mission. It is the life of pilots and their unique life encounters who are very beautifully presented in this book. ´Mermoz feels powerful. He and the plane vibrate in unison as they were one and the some. His euphoria is extraordinary: He shouts, he laughs, he shievers´. I am very passionate about everything airplanes and especially pilots, but I rarely have the chance to read a book where pilots do exist as unique characters, sharing their love and passion. Being a pilot, is more than a job, it is a vocation, like that of a writer´s.
The writing flows beautifully and is catchy. The characters are giving a voice and assigned a personality, that may be or not fully correspond to the real historical characters. However, the real characters themselves lost their ´reality´ through times, as they remain in the memory as reflections of others, subjective projections of subjective interpretations of person and literary works.
I may be over careful with such literary renditions, but at least the episodes of pilot lives do sound inspiring enough to make the reading entincing. Maybe it will encourage more pilot stories and novels, one of the most under represented category in the literary realm nowadays.
In 1944, Saint-Exupéry´s airplane never returned to the base at Bastia, Corsica. His body will never be found.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
´But I´m not a celebrity, I´m a pilot´.
Indeed, Saint-Exupéry was a pilot, first and foremost. His aristocratic family - the ´de´ from his name was genuine and he spent his childhood in a castle - discouraged such endeavours, but his love for the freedom allowed by the skies was stronger than anything. Even stronger than love. At the time when he started his training, at the beginning of the 20th century, being a pilot was not as fancy as it turned to be just a couple of decades later, when royalties like the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, the Shah of Iran or the King of Jordan added piloting among their regular passions.
The historical reconstruction of the life of Saint-Exupéry touches upon other famous French pilots, like Mermoz, who also died in mission. It is the life of pilots and their unique life encounters who are very beautifully presented in this book. ´Mermoz feels powerful. He and the plane vibrate in unison as they were one and the some. His euphoria is extraordinary: He shouts, he laughs, he shievers´. I am very passionate about everything airplanes and especially pilots, but I rarely have the chance to read a book where pilots do exist as unique characters, sharing their love and passion. Being a pilot, is more than a job, it is a vocation, like that of a writer´s.
The writing flows beautifully and is catchy. The characters are giving a voice and assigned a personality, that may be or not fully correspond to the real historical characters. However, the real characters themselves lost their ´reality´ through times, as they remain in the memory as reflections of others, subjective projections of subjective interpretations of person and literary works.
I may be over careful with such literary renditions, but at least the episodes of pilot lives do sound inspiring enough to make the reading entincing. Maybe it will encourage more pilot stories and novels, one of the most under represented category in the literary realm nowadays.
In 1944, Saint-Exupéry´s airplane never returned to the base at Bastia, Corsica. His body will never be found.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
March 30, 2023
3.6 ⭐
October 20, 2021
We perhaps take air travel for granted, but in the early part of the 20th century, flying was a risky business. Pilots flew in terrible conditions in planes completely open and exposed to the elements.
One of these pilots was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - the author of Le Petit Prince. In this fictionalised memoir, we learn about the man before he became a household name.
It’s beautifully written and the author really conjures up the romance of Paris, the adrenaline-fuelled flights and the dangers of the desert. For those interested in history, this insight into early postal services really is fascinating.
However, it is a very slow book. It jumps rapidly from year to year and between the characters; although it’s interesting, it isn’t a book to whizz through in one sitting. If we view this book as a memoir, the timeline does provide credibility - as we all know life is not a carefully planned plot - but its pace and lack of a hook may deter readers.
While the character of Antoine is examined and described in great detail, we lack information on his companions; although he is the main character, it would have been more compelling to have the same level of analysis of his friends. That said, the book is already a hefty tome and any longer might prove unforgiving!
But the quality of the prose, and the dedication of the author, offers a satisfying novel that provides a rare insight into this period of history, as well as the short life of the little prince’s creator.
I was provided with a copy of the book by the publisher for Random Things Tours. All opinions my own.
One of these pilots was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - the author of Le Petit Prince. In this fictionalised memoir, we learn about the man before he became a household name.
It’s beautifully written and the author really conjures up the romance of Paris, the adrenaline-fuelled flights and the dangers of the desert. For those interested in history, this insight into early postal services really is fascinating.
However, it is a very slow book. It jumps rapidly from year to year and between the characters; although it’s interesting, it isn’t a book to whizz through in one sitting. If we view this book as a memoir, the timeline does provide credibility - as we all know life is not a carefully planned plot - but its pace and lack of a hook may deter readers.
While the character of Antoine is examined and described in great detail, we lack information on his companions; although he is the main character, it would have been more compelling to have the same level of analysis of his friends. That said, the book is already a hefty tome and any longer might prove unforgiving!
But the quality of the prose, and the dedication of the author, offers a satisfying novel that provides a rare insight into this period of history, as well as the short life of the little prince’s creator.
I was provided with a copy of the book by the publisher for Random Things Tours. All opinions my own.
October 20, 2021
This book was jsut absolutely wonderful and I am so glad that I got the chance to read it.
Antoine was such a brilliant main character to read about, not jsut becasue his life was so interesting but also because his character was so well-rounded. He had flaws and did not always make the best choices and that just made him feel so human. Plus, his relationship with the other POV characters was wonderful, and seeing that grow and flourish and change throughout the book was brilliant too. Speaking of, the other POV characters were also wonderful and I just loved them all so much. Jean and Henry were also incredible brilliant characters and it was so wonderful seeing all of their lives unfold.
The plot itself was wonderful to read and I really liked how it covered so much time over the book. It was brilliant to read the life of Antoine and watch his love of flying and writing permeate all of his decisions and affect how his life turned out. The fact that flying was so important to the book was so exciting and I loved reading all about it. And the ending of the book was so well created and it made me so happy but also sad, becasue while it wrapped up the book brilliantly it was sad at the same time.
And the writing was amazing and I think that it was just beautiful to read. I loved every second of reading this book. It was well-paced and jsut amazing and well-grounded in the historical time period. It was jsut so good and I think that this is going to become very popular very quickly!
I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
Antoine was such a brilliant main character to read about, not jsut becasue his life was so interesting but also because his character was so well-rounded. He had flaws and did not always make the best choices and that just made him feel so human. Plus, his relationship with the other POV characters was wonderful, and seeing that grow and flourish and change throughout the book was brilliant too. Speaking of, the other POV characters were also wonderful and I just loved them all so much. Jean and Henry were also incredible brilliant characters and it was so wonderful seeing all of their lives unfold.
The plot itself was wonderful to read and I really liked how it covered so much time over the book. It was brilliant to read the life of Antoine and watch his love of flying and writing permeate all of his decisions and affect how his life turned out. The fact that flying was so important to the book was so exciting and I loved reading all about it. And the ending of the book was so well created and it made me so happy but also sad, becasue while it wrapped up the book brilliantly it was sad at the same time.
And the writing was amazing and I think that it was just beautiful to read. I loved every second of reading this book. It was well-paced and jsut amazing and well-grounded in the historical time period. It was jsut so good and I think that this is going to become very popular very quickly!
I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
September 20, 2022
Un libro que empecé leyendo pensando que era una historia completamente distinta.
Nos encontramos con que el autor nos cuenta la vida de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, la persona que escribió la famosísima obra de “El Principito” y además fue un gran piloto francés que ayudó a inaugurar las líneas de mensajería aérea.
Más allá de una novela, es una historia de vida que surge en pleno siglo XX, en medio de un mundo entre guerras que traerá consigo grandes retos para Antoine, o como se refiere el autor a él dentro del libro, Tonio. Es un recorrido por la vida personal, conociendo sus amores, pasiones, miedos y por supuesto sus grandes atributos que lo llevaron a convertirse en un hito de la aviación y la literatura.
Me pareció un poco extenso el libro, pero al fin y al cabo se justifica de alguna forma todo, pues aparte de la historia de Tonio, recorremos la vida de Jean Mermoz y Henri Guillaumet, dos personajes espectaculares que mediante su historia de vida me pusieron a reflexionar numerosas veces.
Mermoz es una persona que aunque tiene atributos algo reprochables, trae consigo también una forma de ver la vida espectacular que hizo de leer este libro una delicia en algunos capítulos.
Dejaré dentro de esta reseña la frase que sin dudarlo más me encantó, no se bien por qué, pero eso es lo bello de los libros, que a cada quien le hablan de una manera distinta.
“Le preguntó a Mermoz si era feliz. Se volvió hacia él como hacía siempre, mirando a los ojos con esa seguridad suya que intimidaba: «¡Por supuesto que no! Eso sería una tragedia. Si eres feliz, ya no queda nada que perseguir».”
4/5 ⭐️
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