BEFORE THE LITTLE PRINCE — NIGHT FLIGHT

de Saint-Exupéry, Antoine (1900–1944) ; Gilbert, Stuart – Translator

Night Flight [First American Edition] [1931 Femina Prize Novel] [Aviation High-Spot]

New York: Century Co, 1932. First Edition, First Printing.
A FOUNDATIONAL MASTERPIECE OF AVIATION LITERATURE THAT CAPTURED THE PERILOUS DAWN OF THE AIRMAIL ERA.
Translated by Stuart Gilbert with a preface by André Gide, this work established Saint-Exupéry as the premier poet of the skies, blending technical precision with a haunting, existential philosophy. This first American edition, preserved in its original priced dust jacket, remains a 'Total Work of Art' for collectors of 20th-century literature and pioneering flight history.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Original graphic dust jacket with the $1.75 price intact; blue linen boards with striking period typography.
+++ Historical Priority: Saint-Exupéry's first major international success and winner of the 1931 Prix Femina.
+++ Content: A dramatic narrative of the early South American mail pilots, emphasizing the tension between human duty and the unforgiving elements of the night.
+++ Associated Names: Includes the influential preface by André Gide, who championed the book as a revolution in French letters.
+++ Imprint: New York: Century Co, 1932. [First American Edition].
+++ Rarity: Uncommon in the original Century Co. jacket; frequently seen only in later, less desirable reprints.
+++ Specs: 7.5 inches tall / [xvi], 198 pages.

CONDITION: Very Good in a  Good Dust Jacket -- The bindings are tight and square in original blue linen; moderate shelf handling with a small rub to the lower spine tip. Text is clean with light, even toning. The dust jacket shows small loss at the spine tips and corners with light edge wear, but remains bright and presents well in a protective Mylar sleeve.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was not merely an author but a pioneer pilot for Aéropostale, flying the dangerous routes over the Sahara and the Andes. 'Night Flight' was written during his tenure as director of the Aeroposta Argentina and is widely considered the first book to successfully translate the visceral, solitary experience of piloting into high literature. His disappearance over the Mediterranean in 1944 during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force cemented his status as a legendary figure of the 20th century.

The 1932 Century Co. edition brought Saint-Exupéry to the English-speaking world just as the 'Golden Age of Flight' was reaching its zenith. The novel’s impact was immediate, leading to a major MGM film adaptation in 1933. Bibliographically, it is cited in the 'Connolly 100' as one of the key modernist works of the era, bridging the gap between adventure fiction and philosophical meditation.

Movie Tie-In: Basis for the 1933 MGM film directed by Clarence Brown, featuring an incredible ensemble cast including Clark Gable, John Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Montgomery, and Myrna Loy. The film was a major production that helped popularize the 'Saint-Ex' mystique in America.

SUBJECTS: Aviation History, South America, Airmail Service, French Literature, Existentialism, 1930s Film, Modern Firsts, Aviation, Literary Fiction.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE:
Connolly 100; Schiff, 205, 210.

Item #21595

Price: $275.00