Antoine De Saint-Exupery Writer Date of Birth: 29.06.1900 Country: France

Biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was not only a renowned writer, but also a symbol of romance. Born into an aristocratic family in Lyon, France on June 29, 1900, he was the third of five children. After the death of his father when he was just four years old, Saint-Exupéry's mother, Marie, became the most important person in his life. Despite being considered unattractive by many due to his facial features, Saint-Exupéry's mother saw him as a kind-hearted and cheerful boy, affectionately calling him the "Sun King."

Growing up, Saint-Exupéry received his education in Catholic schools, attending the School of Christian Brothers in Lyon, as well as Jesuit colleges in Mans and Switzerland. Although he initially dreamed of a career in the navy, he was unsuccessful in entering the Naval Academy. Instead, he pursued architecture and studied at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. However, his passion for aviation prevailed.

In 1921, Saint-Exupéry enlisted in the army and joined an infantry brigade. It was during his service that he discovered his true calling in aviation. After passing the civil pilot exam, he relocated to Morocco and obtained his qualification as a military pilot. Following the completion of officer training courses in 1921, he became a second lieutenant. However, in January 1923, his plane crashed, resulting in a head injury that led to his resignation from the military.

Returning to Paris, Saint-Exupéry attempted to pursue a writing career, but found little success. In order to support himself, he took on various jobs, including book sales and dealing used cars. His love life also faced challenges, as his affections for the wealthy Louise de Vilmorin were not reciprocated. Despite his setbacks, Saint-Exupéry continued to fly civil aircraft and even wrote his first novel, "Southern Mail," which depicted his experiences flying in the Sahara Desert.

In 1929, after the publication of "Southern Mail," Saint-Exupéry gained literary fame and financial success. He was appointed as the technical director of the South American division of "Aéropostale" and was awarded the Legion of Honour for his contributions to French civil aviation. During this time, he met Consuelo, the widow of writer Gomez Carillo, who became his muse and a tumultuous presence in his life.

In 1931, Saint-Exupéry's career in aviation took a downturn when "Aéropostale" went bankrupt. However, he continued to write and published his novel "Night Flight," which earned him the prestigious "Femina" literary award. He embarked on numerous flying expeditions to Africa, Indochina, and South America, working as a reporter for the newspaper "Paris-Soir." In 1935, his travel observations in the Soviet Union were well-received by the Soviet leadership, leading to regular publications of his works in the country.

In December 1935, Saint-Exupéry attempted to set a long-distance flight record from Paris to Saigon, but his plane crashed in the Libyan desert. He and his mechanic, André Prévot, were rescued by Bedouins after three days. This experience inspired his most famous work, "The Little Prince," whose character, the Rose, reflects the traits of his tumultuous relationship with Consuelo.

With the outbreak of World War II, Saint-Exupéry voluntarily joined the military in 1939. He flew several combat missions and was awarded the Military Cross. After the fall of France, he moved to the United States and joined the Free French Air Force under General de Gaulle in 1943. On July 31, 1944, Saint-Exupéry embarked on his final flight, which ended in his disappearance. His plane wreckage was discovered near Marseille in 1988, but the circumstances of his death remain a mystery.