Appearance
Wind, Sand and Stars
I recently read Exupery's Wind, Sand and Stars for a survey course in world literature. Initially, I was concerned that my lack of interest and background in aviation might limit my enjoyment of the book. However, that was not at all the case. Saint-Exupery masterfully brings to life the excitement of aviation and the craft of piloting. Through his series of essays, I gained a great deal of appreciation for his profession, its place in European culture and was captivated all the while. I would highly recommend Wind, Sand and Stars for both young and old.
Wind, Sand and Stars
A wonderful, wonderful autobiographical work by the French aviation pioneer. Antione de Saint-Exupery was among those first who flew the scheduled air mail runs over the Sahara in the 1920's and 30's. Engine failures, crahses, and falling into the hands of hostile Bedouins was not uncommon. Those stories alone would make for fascinating reading.Add to that the author's genuine talent as a poet philospher, and this is a unique and great piece of historical literature. Saint-Exupery finds magic and value in everything . . . the lights of his primitive dashbord at night, the world scrolling under him while in flight, the hallucinations while dying of thirst face down in the desert sand. And his observations of people! - the love-hate relationship with the Arabs of the desert, a pair of little princesses living in fantastical (because the author makes it so) house in a remote jungle village, the heroics of Spanish revolutionaries and patriots.The adventure aspects rival any fiction I have read . . . flying while held stationary in a tremendous offshore windstorm off the South American coast . . . the magic of nightfall while in flight . . . slamming into the Libyan desert floor while flying blind.As he is wont to do, Saint-Ex frequently treks off into the motivations and worth of mens' efforts, and the human situation in general. But always good stuff, some of it ingenious. Thoughtful, posing many truths and questions.A wonderful work. I had to read it in English, and doubtlessly something has been lost in the translation from French (transl by Lewis Galantiere). Still, not to be missed.
Wind, Sand and Stars
This is a beautifully written book exuding a sense of mystery and adventure perhaps no longer possible to experience. Antoine de Saint-Exupery was an aristocrat and pilot who chose to fly lonely postal routes -- a romantic adventurer with incredible sensitivities who was filled with wonder and musings about what he encountered. No one should pass this by. It could be read to a child though it is not a children's story. A popular children's story also written by Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince, was published five years later.
Wind, Sand and Stars
This book makes you very sad to think what happened to Europe during the first half of the twentieth century, that men like this died. Doesn't bear thinking about. This is an excellent translation. A fabulous book; part poetry, philosophy and memoir. One of my very favourites, along with his 'Flight to Arras'. One of the two has a very memorable description of why some people become terrorists (boredom basically).
Wind, Sand and Stars
Some authors will serve a decent story and nourish a reader's sensibilities adequately enough that the reader feels satisfied to have read it. But Saint-Exupery, in "Wind, Sand and Stars," lovingly prepares and serves a sumptuous banquet in his story that not only leaves us readers feeling very well nourished, but also immerses us in the sensual pleasure of tasting and savoring the dishes he sets before us.If your literary taste runs to the gourmet, read this book.
Wind, Sand and Stars
the first and last chapters were philosophical reviews of life (comparing the exciting aspects of flying which makes life seem so vibrant) against the mundane life of bureaucrats and peasants who live and die without seeing the world (as he does from the air). A line in the closing chapter is poignant: the infant that he is sitting next to has the potential to be anything and everything; but due to its parents and its probable future life, it wont ever realize its potential (they killed Mozart).the second to last chapter is a number of stories of the war in Spain (Franco; remember this was written about the late 1920s to the 1930s), with people fighting; it's a social commentary on war from the perspective of life and death (and has NOTHING to do with flying). This is a very long chapter (50 pages out of a 229 page book) and I was disappointed because I was'nt into reading about this.all the other chapters were of flying (and crashing, such as surviving in the desert), were good, and I wished there were more of them.overall, its an uneven book because it covers more areas than just flying (or even flying from the perspective of life & death). As a recommendation, I could take it or leave it.