Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin Books Ltd (1995), Edition: New Ed, Paperback, 160 pages
Description
The story of Saint-Exupery's dramatic reconnaissance mission from Orly over Nazi occupied France to Arras in 1940.
User reviews
LibraryThing member glowing-fish
This book didn't get rid of any of my stereotypes about the French.
Jus' sayin'
Jus' sayin'
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
Saint Ex's account of flying recon in the opening days of the German invasion of France. He recounts highlites of the time by condensing it into a single account of a flight over the enemy town of Arras. I found it to be a good account of what its like to be on the edge of death, depressing and
As usual Saint Ex fills the pages with poetic and original descriptions and many metaphors.
This is about travel literature:
"There is a cheap literature that speaks to us of the need to escape. It is true that when we travel we are in search of distance. But distance is not to be found. It melts away. And escape has never led anyone anywhere. The moment a man finds he must play the races, go to the Arctic, or make war in order to feel himself alive, that man has begun to spin the strands that bind him to other men and to the world. But what wretched strands! A civilization that is really strong fills man to the brim, though he never stir. What are we worth when motionless, is the question." -pg. 113
about fear and death:
"Man does not die. Man imagines that it is death that he fears; but what he fears is the unforseen, the explosion. What man fears is himself, not death. There is no death when you meet death. When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed. Man is a knot, a web, a mesh into which relationships are tied. Only those relationships matter. The body is an old crock that nobody will miss. I have never known a man to think of himself when dying. Never." -pg.183
seeing your own death coming:
"And point by point I recognized the extraordinary sensation that now and then accompanies the imminence of death-a feeling of unexpected leisure..The plane was burning, the fighters were after it and spattering it with bullets..but he had felt no desire of any kind. He had felt nothing. He had time on his hands. He was floating in a sort of infinite leisure." -pg.68
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Saint Ex wrote Flight to Arras (along with Little Prince) while in the USA for 2 years, right after the events of the book, he then returned to fly more missions in the later days of the war. Prophetically to the tone of the book, he died while on a recon mission off the coast of France, returning home from his last mission.
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morose, as the subject requires, yet beautiful and humane.As usual Saint Ex fills the pages with poetic and original descriptions and many metaphors.
This is about travel literature:
"There is a cheap literature that speaks to us of the need to escape. It is true that when we travel we are in search of distance. But distance is not to be found. It melts away. And escape has never led anyone anywhere. The moment a man finds he must play the races, go to the Arctic, or make war in order to feel himself alive, that man has begun to spin the strands that bind him to other men and to the world. But what wretched strands! A civilization that is really strong fills man to the brim, though he never stir. What are we worth when motionless, is the question." -pg. 113
about fear and death:
"Man does not die. Man imagines that it is death that he fears; but what he fears is the unforseen, the explosion. What man fears is himself, not death. There is no death when you meet death. When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed. Man is a knot, a web, a mesh into which relationships are tied. Only those relationships matter. The body is an old crock that nobody will miss. I have never known a man to think of himself when dying. Never." -pg.183
seeing your own death coming:
"And point by point I recognized the extraordinary sensation that now and then accompanies the imminence of death-a feeling of unexpected leisure..The plane was burning, the fighters were after it and spattering it with bullets..but he had felt no desire of any kind. He had felt nothing. He had time on his hands. He was floating in a sort of infinite leisure." -pg.68
----
Saint Ex wrote Flight to Arras (along with Little Prince) while in the USA for 2 years, right after the events of the book, he then returned to fly more missions in the later days of the war. Prophetically to the tone of the book, he died while on a recon mission off the coast of France, returning home from his last mission.
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LibraryThing member hellbent
The first part was exciting, but then Exupery becomes rather philosophic and the book gets bogged down into an anti-war polemic.
LibraryThing member whwatson
My first introduction to Saint-Exupery came in 1993 when Outside Magazine published a list of the Top 25 best adventure books written over the last 100 years. Saint-Exupery’s book Wind, Sand and Stars headed that list. Today some critics still claim that that book is the best one ever written on
Flight to Arras is my 4th novel of his to read. For me, it is not at the level of my first exposure to his writings, but it is still an extremely well written book for entirely different reasons. He was a writer with a poetic methodology. And one who was able to dig inside and explain feelings and emotions that put you the reader into the scene, the circumstances, and his head.
This book takes place during WWII when the Germans were completely over running France. Saint-Exupery belonged to one of two groups flying French reconnaissance planes. Fifty such in the entire French army. One out of every three planes sent out on a mission never comes back. He and his two crew members are sent on a “sortie” that is considered “damned awkward”. In other words, an extremely high probability of not returning.
But this is not a war story. The suicidal mission becomes a backdrop, linchpin, and the motivator to delve into broad philosophical musings on life, purpose, behaviors, relationships to “Man”, and ends with the analogy of the rebirth potential of a seed that may be all that is left of what came before.
This is a really good book that explores the reflective aspects of life; and under circumstances where the writer expects to meet his own death. It is a short read, 150 plus pages, but better enjoyed when you have the time to appreciate the soul bearing he exposes and potentially the feelings stirred within yourself.
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flying. It is a great read, classic, and still remains one of my all time favorites. Flight to Arras is my 4th novel of his to read. For me, it is not at the level of my first exposure to his writings, but it is still an extremely well written book for entirely different reasons. He was a writer with a poetic methodology. And one who was able to dig inside and explain feelings and emotions that put you the reader into the scene, the circumstances, and his head.
This book takes place during WWII when the Germans were completely over running France. Saint-Exupery belonged to one of two groups flying French reconnaissance planes. Fifty such in the entire French army. One out of every three planes sent out on a mission never comes back. He and his two crew members are sent on a “sortie” that is considered “damned awkward”. In other words, an extremely high probability of not returning.
But this is not a war story. The suicidal mission becomes a backdrop, linchpin, and the motivator to delve into broad philosophical musings on life, purpose, behaviors, relationships to “Man”, and ends with the analogy of the rebirth potential of a seed that may be all that is left of what came before.
This is a really good book that explores the reflective aspects of life; and under circumstances where the writer expects to meet his own death. It is a short read, 150 plus pages, but better enjoyed when you have the time to appreciate the soul bearing he exposes and potentially the feelings stirred within yourself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lamour
As the last days before the fall of France in 1940 approach, Saint Exupery & his fellow flyers face almost certain death with every flight. This volume is his description of the recon flight he ton to Arras and what went through his mind as he flew. He describes the plight of the refugees fleeing
He analyzes his feelings about dying especially for a cause that seems hopeless. He also thinks back to his youth and how it influenced him to be the man he is at the moment. This is a classic in the annals of aviation literature.
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the Gernans with no idea where they will end up and how they will feed themselves. The plight of children is most moving.He analyzes his feelings about dying especially for a cause that seems hopeless. He also thinks back to his youth and how it influenced him to be the man he is at the moment. This is a classic in the annals of aviation literature.
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LibraryThing member Chris_El
A French pilot talking about his scouting flight flown while the German's were pouring into his country like a flood. The French high command was in disarray and he felt his scouting flight was probably useless and likely to get him killed. But he went anyway. Along the way on this one flight he
A sample: "There is a cheap literature that speak to us of the need of escape. It is true that when we travel we are in search of distance. But distance is not to be found. It melts away. And escape has never led anywhere. The moment a man finds that he must play the races, go the Arctic, or make war in order to feel himself alive, that man has begun to spin the strands that bind him to other men and to the world. But what wretched strands! A civilization that is really strong fills man to the brim, though he never stir. What are we worth when motionless, is the question." ~ WWII French pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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talks about philosophy, life, the situation in France, and with the French Air Force. A sample: "There is a cheap literature that speak to us of the need of escape. It is true that when we travel we are in search of distance. But distance is not to be found. It melts away. And escape has never led anywhere. The moment a man finds that he must play the races, go the Arctic, or make war in order to feel himself alive, that man has begun to spin the strands that bind him to other men and to the world. But what wretched strands! A civilization that is really strong fills man to the brim, though he never stir. What are we worth when motionless, is the question." ~ WWII French pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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LibraryThing member soylentgreen23
It's amazing what had to be done in the war, and Saint-Exupery captures perfectly the drama of every moment of his mission.
LibraryThing member MeisterPfriem
May 1940 - the allied armies are evacuated from Dunkirk.The German Army is pushing south over the Somme. Millions of refugees are fleeing south and clogging the roads. The French defence dissolves.
‘Saint-Ex’ is sent on a, by now, senseless reconnaissance mission above Arras. His unit had
Below him: the human masses being stuck on jammed streets, fires, wrecked wagons, the injured dying in mud and filth.
This time death does not take him, his navigator and gunner. Four years later, on July 31st 1944, he does not return from a reconnaissance flight over the Mediterranean.
Facing death he lives entirely in the present. He records his thoughts about life and death during the flight. He writes: only then, in these moments, one is entirely human. (IX-22)
‘Saint-Ex’ is sent on a, by now, senseless reconnaissance mission above Arras. His unit had
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already lost 17 out of 23 planes. He has not more than 1 in 3 chance of returning.Below him: the human masses being stuck on jammed streets, fires, wrecked wagons, the injured dying in mud and filth.
This time death does not take him, his navigator and gunner. Four years later, on July 31st 1944, he does not return from a reconnaissance flight over the Mediterranean.
Facing death he lives entirely in the present. He records his thoughts about life and death during the flight. He writes: only then, in these moments, one is entirely human. (IX-22)
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LibraryThing member FallsGalloway
"Flight to Arras" is a powerful memoir written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a renowned French aviator and author, best known for "The Little Prince". Published in 1942, the book recounts Saint-Exupéry's experiences as a pilot during the early days of World War II.
The memoir takes place during the
"Flight to Arras" delves into the emotional and psychological turmoil experienced by Saint-Exupéry and his fellow aviators. It explores the fear, uncertainty, and camaraderie that existed among the pilots, highlighting their courage and dedication in the face of adversity.
The book is not merely a chronicle of military operations but also a philosophical reflection on the nature of war and the human condition. Saint-Exupéry contemplates the purpose and meaning of life in the midst of destruction, questioning the value of sacrifice and the ultimate futility of war.
Through vivid and poetic prose, Saint-Exupéry captures the beauty and tragedy of flight, describing the exhilaration of soaring through the skies juxtaposed with the grim reality of war-torn landscapes below. His writing blends technical details of aviation with philosophical musings, creating a unique narrative that engages both the intellect and the emotions of the reader.
"Flight to Arras" is a poignant exploration of the human spirit, resilience, and the search for meaning in the face of impending danger. It offers insights into the experiences and emotions of those involved in aerial warfare, shedding light on the complexities of the human condition during times of conflict.
Saint-Exupéry's introspective and lyrical writing style, combined with his firsthand experiences as a pilot, imbues the book with a sense of authenticity and depth. "Flight to Arras" stands as a testament to the author's literary talent and his profound understanding of the human soul.
Overall, "Flight to Arras" is a thought-provoking memoir that transcends its wartime context. It delves into universal themes of courage, mortality, and the search for purpose, resonating with readers long after the final page is turned.
The memoir takes place during the
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Battle of France in 1940 when Saint-Exupéry served as a pilot in the French Air Force. It provides a deeply personal and introspective account of his time as a reconnaissance pilot, flying dangerous missions over enemy territory."Flight to Arras" delves into the emotional and psychological turmoil experienced by Saint-Exupéry and his fellow aviators. It explores the fear, uncertainty, and camaraderie that existed among the pilots, highlighting their courage and dedication in the face of adversity.
The book is not merely a chronicle of military operations but also a philosophical reflection on the nature of war and the human condition. Saint-Exupéry contemplates the purpose and meaning of life in the midst of destruction, questioning the value of sacrifice and the ultimate futility of war.
Through vivid and poetic prose, Saint-Exupéry captures the beauty and tragedy of flight, describing the exhilaration of soaring through the skies juxtaposed with the grim reality of war-torn landscapes below. His writing blends technical details of aviation with philosophical musings, creating a unique narrative that engages both the intellect and the emotions of the reader.
"Flight to Arras" is a poignant exploration of the human spirit, resilience, and the search for meaning in the face of impending danger. It offers insights into the experiences and emotions of those involved in aerial warfare, shedding light on the complexities of the human condition during times of conflict.
Saint-Exupéry's introspective and lyrical writing style, combined with his firsthand experiences as a pilot, imbues the book with a sense of authenticity and depth. "Flight to Arras" stands as a testament to the author's literary talent and his profound understanding of the human soul.
Overall, "Flight to Arras" is a thought-provoking memoir that transcends its wartime context. It delves into universal themes of courage, mortality, and the search for purpose, resonating with readers long after the final page is turned.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1942-02-20
1942
Physical description
160 p.; 7.8 inches
ISBN
0140187685 / 9780140187687