Close to
the Invalides (see previous posts) there is since 1865 a little square called
“Square Santiago-du-Chili” - the Chilean
Embassy is quite close. It’s a very calm little corner for a little rest. A few of the trees are some 150 years old.
Since 1989 there is the bust of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (by Madeleine Tézenas
de Montcel).
Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry (1900-44) was a writer, poet, journalist and also a famous aviator,
however maybe best known for having
written and illustrated “Le Petit Prince” (The Little Prince).
He opened and worked on airmail routes in Europe, Africa and South America until WW II, when he joined
the French Air Force until the surrender in 1940. He then left for the US, during
about two years campaigning for the US entry into the war … and writing, before
joining the French Free Air Force in North Africa … and disappearing over the
Mediterranean during a reconnaissance mission in July 1944.
Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry wrote a lot, had several books published during the 30’s and the
40’s, some with great public success and winning awards like that of the French
Academy, the US National Book Award… “The Little Prince”, illustrated by himself, was published in the US in 1943 and in France immediately after
the war. It has been translated to some 250 languages and sold in some 140 million
copies (one of the bestselling books ever), not mentioning recordings, stage,
screen, ballet, opera adaptations.
Why is the
bust here at the ”Square Santiago-du-Chili”? Maybe because of Saint-Exupéry’s
involvement in opening airborne postal service all the way down to Chile.
Posts
7 comments:
Interesting.
Wow! How appropriate to find mention of Antoine de Saint-Exupery in your post today. I always treat my dentist of 30 years with a book each visit ... and just last week I took him a 1939 copy of Wind, Sand & Stars by Saint-Exupery which I had found at an estate sale. I hope he will enjoy reading it. In addition, I think it has some value--at least on this side of the pond. Perhaps I can forward him some of the pictures you posted. Merci!
The only book by Saint Exupery that I read was The Little Prince...
But I know that he wrote at least one book about his travels around the world.
He did travel all the way down south from Chile to Brazil, Argentina and finally to Paraguay.
In Paraguay he stayed in a very charming hotel, Hotel del Lago, at a spa town called San Bernardino...
In a city like Paris, there's sometimes no logic as to why a place is named like it is, non?
Thanks for this wonderful post!
Maria
Never knew that Peter. Just finished a book about Charles Petoit, a serial killer during Nazi occupied France in WWII. Exupery was mentioned several times as the book not only chronicled the events of the primary story but what was happening in Paris culturally and in "life" at the same time. So I had been reminded of him. Maybe I should re-read Little Prince or find another of his books... signals and all that!
Oh, how nice to know that there is a bust of him in that area - I will make sure to drop by and thank him for the good reads the next time I'm in town!
Un homme aussi célèbre à St Louis qu'a Paris.
A square in Paris honoring my birthplace! One of the trees you pictured is an Araucaria, a species native to Chile. The first time I walked through the area I noticed the trees and discovered the connection. Saint-Exupery personally flew the first airmail route to Santiago and is honored in Chilean history. There are several schools named after him.
Post a Comment