The Prince of the Skies: A biographical novel about the author of The Little Prince

(Hardback)

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From the bestselling author of The Librarian of Auschwitz, Antonio Iturbe, comes a captivating historical novel based on a true story - the extraordinary life and mysterious death of Antoine de Saint-Exupry, author of The Little Prince. Writer. Romantic. Pilot. Hero. All Antoine de Saint Exupry wants to do is be a pilot. But flying is a dangerous dream and one that sets him at odds with his aristocratic background and the woman he loves. Despite attempts to keep him grounded, Antoine is determined to venture forwards into the unknown. Together with his friends, Jean and Henri, he will pioneer new mail routes across the globe and help change the future of aviation. In the midst of his adventures, Antoine also begins to weave a children's story that is destined to touch the lives of millions of readers around the world. A story called The Little Prince . . . Fame and fortune may have finally found Antoine, but as the shadow of the Second World War begins to threaten Europe, he's left to wonder whether his greatest adventure is yet to come . . . Translated by Lilit Zekulin Thwaites, The Prince of the Skies is a moving tale of love and friendship, war and heroism, and the power of the written word.

Reviews

The language is mesmerizing, so lyrical and poetic. What a beautiful, thought-provoking read. -- Jennifer Ryan, bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir and The Kitchen Front
I adored the character of Antoine, a man who is ingenious when flying a plane and an idiot when it comes to love. The descriptions of the life-and-death scrapes he and his aviator colleagues get into are gripping, and theres a vivid sense of the sheer thrill of flying. Its spellbinding! -- Gill Paul, Bestselling author of The Secret Wife
A dreamy and exhilarating read, Antonio Iturbe pays homage to the trailblazing pilot and beloved author who inspired millions with his imagination and spirit of adventure * Woman's Own *
an engrossing novel that vividly captures the excitement, thrills and dangers of flying in the twenties * Choice *

Antonio Iturbe (The Librarian of Auschwitz) has written a dashing biographical fiction based on the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Iturbe writes with great verve and vividness of romantic travail and the hair-raising feats of early aviation, draws a sparkling portrait of Paris between the wars, and does imaginative justice to the life of a literary and military hero.

* Sydney Morning Herald *
The Prince of the Skies is an utterly fascinating insight into the phenomenal life of Antoine de Saint-Exupry...Antonio Iturbe has created a magical piece of writing, one that I highly recommend to all who want to...discover more about the man behind that classic tale The Little Prince. Compelling. Captivating. Spellbinding. * www.writing.ie *
Iturbe exuberantly tells the story of author Antoine de Saint-Exupery and his passion for flying, poetry, and beautiful women. The author does a wonderful job of dramatizing how exhilarating and dangerous the early years of civil aviation were for a handful of bold and intrepid pilots. He also recreates in sparking fashion interwar French society. Saint-Ex, his colleagues, and their loves come to life in a novel that would do the author of The Little Prince proud. * Publishers Weekly Starred Review *
Like Markus Zusaks The Book Thief, its a sophisticated novel with mature themes, delivering an emotionally searing reading experience. An important novel that will stand with other powerful testaments from the Holocaust era -- Booklist on The Librarian of Auschwitz
No punches are pulled about the unimaginable atrocity of the death camps, a life-affirming history -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review on The Librarian of Auschwitz
Once read, will never be forgotten . . . A hauntingly authentic Holocaust retelling -- School Library Journal on The Librarian of Auschwitz

Author Bio

Antonio Iturbe was born in 1967 and grew up in the dock-side neighbourhood of Barceloneta, in Barcelona. He studied Information Sciences at the Universitat Autnoma de Barcelona and over the past fifteen years has worked as a cultural journalist. In 2005, he made his debut as a novelist with the comic novel Rectos torcidos and has written for children with the series Los Casos del Inspector Cito, a collection of the stories he used to read to his son at bedtime. He is the author of the international bestseller The Librarian of Auschwitz and The Prince of the Skies.