The Little Prince
小王子
The Little Prince , first published in 1943, is a novella 注 and the most famous work of the French aristocrat, writer, poet and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944). The novella is both the most-read and most-translated book in the French language, and was voted the best book of the 20th century in France. With sales totalling over one hundred and forty million copies worldwide, it has become one of the top best-selling books ever published.
《小王子》是一部发表于1943年的短篇小说，作者安东尼·德·圣-埃克苏佩里(1900—1944)是一位法国贵族后裔，同时也是作家、诗人和飞行员。该短篇小说是法语作品中读者最多、被翻译得最多的作品，荣膺二十世纪法国最佳作品。作品至今已在全球销售超过1.4亿册，成为出版界最畅销的读物之一。
The Little Prince is a poetic tale, with watercolour illustrations by the author, in which a pilot stranded in the desert meets a young prince fallen to Earth from a tiny asteroid 注 . The story of The Little Prince is recalled in a sombre, measured tone by the pilot-narrator, in memory of his small friend, in a memorial not just to the innocent and lovable prince, but also to the time the prince and the narrator had together. The story is philosophical and includes social criticism, remarking on the strangeness of the adult world. Though ostensibly styled as a children's book, The Little Prince makes several observations about life and human nature.
《小王子》是一部由作者亲笔绘制其水彩插图的诗意童话，讲述了一位坠机受困于沙漠的飞行员遇到了从一颗小星球坠落地球的小王子的故事。全书以飞行员审慎、黯然的口吻回忆了他的“小”朋友，缅怀了天真可爱的小王子和他们在沙漠一起度过的时光。整个故事充满哲学情思，又不乏对疏离冷漠的成人世界的批判。虽然题材上看似儿童读物，但是《小王子》中却随处可见对人生和人性的思索。
The Little Prince is outstanding for its simplicity in language and style yet profundity of its theme and revelation of human life. The prince's fascinating travels amongst different asteroids and his attachment with his bittersweet rose are all clues, with which readers of all ages sympathize with this figure and more importantly, get inspired to know the essence of a much happier life.
《小王子》的成功之处在于它用简单的语言和叙事风格，却揭示了深刻的主题和人生道理。小王子在太空中不同星球的游历，他与爱人玫瑰的情思悲喜，都引导着各个年龄阶段的读者，在为他同情叹息之余，更可以从小王子身上学会读懂快乐人生的真谛。
