Wind, Sand and Stars * Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Lewis Galantière (Translator)

This philosophical memoir recounts Saint-Exupéry’s daring adventures as an aviation pioneer, surviving plane crashes in the Libyan Desert, and reflecting on the beauty, peril, and camaraderie of early flight.

It acts as both an exciting adventure and a lyrical meditation on the human condition. Rather than a straight narrative, it is a collection of interconnected essays. Key themes and subjects include:

The Wonder and Isolation of Flight: Saint-Exupéry describes the profound detachment pilots felt from the everyday world when soaring above the clouds and navigating by the stars.

Life-Threatening Survival: The author vividly recounts his near-death experience after his plane crashed in the Sahara Desert, detailing his and his navigator's harrowing trek across the dunes without water before being rescued by a Bedouin.

Human Connection and Camaraderie: Through his experiences with his fellow airmail pilots, he champions the bonds of friendship, mutual reliance, and the shared purpose of humanity.

Philosophical Reflections: The book ponders themes like destiny, agency, and the profound realization that adversity brings out true human courage Amazon.

Translated by Lewis Galantière.

Introduction by Pierre Clostermann.

National Book Award for Nonfiction (1939), Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française (1939)

First published 1939. Published 1965 by Time Reading Program.