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Terre des hommes

Terre des hommes

Biography & MemoirHistory
Pages
258
Published
1966
Language
English

Synopsis

Experience the stark beauty and harsh realities of early aviation in this lyrical memoir. The author recounts his daring flights delivering mail across vast deserts and treacherous mountains. One harrowing account details a crash landing in the Sahara, forcing him and his navigator into a desperate struggle for survival against the unforgiving elements.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

AdventurousReflectiveEmotionalInspiring
SurvivalQuest

Genres

Biography & Memoir History Literary Fiction Travel Biography Essays World War II

About the author

A
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (29 June 1900—31 July 1944) was a French writer and aviator. He is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince), and for his books about aviation adventures, including Night Flight and Wind, Sand and Stars. He was a successful commercial pilot before World War II, joining the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) on the outbreak of war, flying reconnaissance missions until the armistice with Germany. Following a spell of writing in the United Stat...

Frequently asked questions

  • Is this book a continuous narrative or a collection of stories?

    The book is structured as a series of interconnected essays and meditations rather than a linear story, a format suggested to the author by André Gide to better capture the varied sensations and reflections of his flying career.

  • Did this book receive any major literary recognition?

    It was awarded the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française in 1939, and its English translation, published as Wind, Sand and Stars, received the U.S. National Book Award that same year.

  • How does this book relate to the author's other works?

    It serves as a foundational text for the author's humanistic philosophy, drawing on his real-world experiences as an Aéropostale pilot to explore themes of responsibility and friendship that later permeate his more famous fictional works.

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