Discovering Humanity in War

The Hopeful Legacy of Saint-Exupéry

‘I would like to write about a person who doesn't fire, who can't shoot at another human being, who suffers at the thought of war,’ said Svetlana Alexievich in 2015 upon receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature. Wasn't Antoine de Saint-Exupéry such a person? He suffered at the thought of war despite being actively involved as a wartime pilot. This experience led to the creation of the fascinating book ‘Pilote de guerre,’ where the author/pilot stands firm in the conflict without resorting to violence and ultimately survives—at least in 1940... he was killed four years later.

Early life and career

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, born into a noble family in Lyon in 1900, became a pioneering commercial pilot, flying airmail routes across Europe, Africa, and South America. His first book, The Aviator, published in 1926, marked the beginning of a series of literary works drawn from his experiences in aviation.

After surviving a plane crash in the Sahara Desert in 1935, he used the ordeal as inspiration for his 1939 memoir, Wind, Sand and Stars. At the onset of World War II, Saint-Exupéry joined the French airforce, undertaking reconnaissance missions until France's capitulation in 1940. He then spent 28 months in the United States, writing three major novels before returning to active duty.

The Final Flight

On July 31, 1944, Saint-Exupéry embarked on a solo reconnaissance mission over occupied France and never returned. While he is best known for The Little Prince, he wrote many other works that explore the human condition in the age of modern technology. His humanitarian ideals are reflected in the organisation Terre des hommes, which opposes child exploitation and takes its name from one of his books.

A Philosophy of Hope amidst War

One of his lesser-known works, Pilote de guerre (translated as ‘Flight to Arras’), deserves more attention. This book unites the main themes of his writing and provides a compelling narrative of his time as a war correspondent during the Spanish Civil War. Saint-Exupéry articulates a significant issue of his era: the absence of a common language to express what unites humanity. Through Pilote de guerre, we witness his struggle to find this unifying language, showcasing his unique poetic, impressionistic style as a writer and thinker who was also a man of action.

Rather than focusing on the adventures of an aviation pioneer, Pilote de guerre delves into the harsh realities of war, particularly during a high-risk reconnaissance mission amid the German assault in 1940. Facing the possibility of death, Saint-Exupéry sharpens his philosophical quest, advocating for a philosophy of life that endures even in the face of relentless history. He encourages the French to embrace a realism grounded in hope. His conclusions offer a lasting testament to European humanity, revealing a profound sense of renewal and hope even amidst defeat, a sentiment he affirmed through his life's dedication.

Today's global conflicts, especially those in Europe, poignantly highlight Pilote de guerre's relevance. The book's exploration of war's humanitarian and philosophical dimensions resonates with the current state of the world, making it an essential read for our times.

In English: Flight to Arras

In Dutch: Oorlogsvlieger

This article is a translated and adapted version of an earlier Dutch article on the same topic, originally written by Stefan Waanders, who has kindly granted permission for its use.

Picture: thanks to Pixabay