“L’homme se découvre quand il se mesure à l’obstacle” (Avant-Propos,
Terre des Hommes)
During the nineteen thirties and forties, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) had acquired an almost legendary reputation as a writer in France, having been awarded « Le Prix Femina » in 1931 for Vol de nuit and «Le grand prix du roman de l’Académie française » for Terre des homes in 1939. He was also known for his expertise and courage as a commercial pilot: he was made a “Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur” in 1930, and then an “Officier de la Légion d’honneur” in 1939. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the Armée de l’air (French Air Force) flying reconnaissance missions; but, due to declining health, he was demobilized. He still joined the Free French
3271 words
Citation: Tirven-Gadum, Vina. "Terre des Hommes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 February 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=25927, accessed 21 November 2024.]