Saint-Exupéry's Shattered Flight

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The pioneers of aviation were permanently facing death, but they carried on their great work of reducing travel time and conciliating the nations. One of them, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, externalised through his writings the exalted humanism and poetry created by his life of adventure.

In 1935, he has already published two stories that have been successful, "Courrier Sud" (Southern Mail) and "Vol de Nuit" (Night Flight). With the mechanic Prévot, he is now trying to beat the record of André Japy, author of a Paris-Saigon in three days and fifteen hours.

Their plane crashed in the Libyan desert. Alone, without food, for four days, they were saved in extremis by a Bedouin, at a time when they began to suffer hallucinations.

A few weeks later, from 30 January to 4 February 1936, the Parisian newspaper "l'Intransigeant" published the story of this adventure by Saint-Exupéry as "le Vol brisé - Prison de sable" (Shattered Flight - Prison of Sand). The manuscript of 58 folios, which had been retained by the heirs, will be sold by Sotheby's in Paris on June 17 for the benefit of foundations in the memory of the author. It is estimated 200 K €.

This text is very important in the work of Saint-Exupéry, who slightly reworked it to make the central chapter of "Terre des Hommes" (Wind, Sand and Stars) (1939). His terrible experience in the desert then inspired him "Le Petit Prince" (The Little Prince) (1943).

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

This manuscript was exceptional. It was therefore logical that the result is close to the high estimate. It was sold 310 K € premium included.