Saint Exupéry: A Biography

Rating:
Summary: Review updated, with a confession & a recommendation
Review: Antoine de Saint-Exupery: born 8am June 29th 1900 in Lyons, France. I am only a few chapters into this expertly-written and highly-detailed biography and can already foresee that I will linger through it and saturate myself with it for who-knows-how-long (like I do when I read Saint-Ex's books). Stacy Schiff's extent of knowledge she has gathered on the man floors me.

I am updating this review now as of 1/21/2004. #1 I must confess that I haven't finished this book yet, so I dropped a star due to the enticement level of the reading; although, in good faith I suspect the author HAS included a ton of info. So for that research effort I give four stars. However. #2 I have recently read the memoirs of his wife, Consuelo Saint-Exupery. In comparison, I fervently ran through those 350 pages in two evenings. All I am going to say now, here, is this: no individual study of the man, no matter how nonchalant, is worth squat unless someone also reads the "A Tale of the Rose" manuscript from the one who loved him tirelessly. You will never look at his work, or "The Little Prince", in the same light. (Nor his notions of "duty", for that matter!!!)

Rating:
Summary: Review updated, with a confession & a recommendation
Review: Antoine de Saint-Exupery: born 8am June 29th 1900 in Lyons, France. I am only a few chapters into this expertly-written and highly-detailed biography and can already foresee that I will linger through it and saturate myself with it for who-knows-how-long (like I do when I read Saint-Ex's books). Stacy Schiff's extent of knowledge she has gathered on the man floors me.

I am updating this review now as of 1/21/2004. #1 I must confess that I haven't finished this book yet, so I dropped a star due to the enticement level of the reading; although, in good faith I suspect the author HAS included a ton of info. So for that research effort I give four stars. However. #2 I have recently read the memoirs of his wife, Consuelo Saint-Exupery. In comparison, I fervently ran through those 350 pages in two evenings. All I am going to say now, here, is this: no individual study of the man, no matter how nonchalant, is worth squat unless someone also reads the "A Tale of the Rose" manuscript from the one who loved him tirelessly. You will never look at his work, or "The Little Prince", in the same light. (Nor his notions of "duty", for that matter!!!)

Rating:
Summary: Ignorance is bliss
Review: I have read much of Saint-Exupery's work and created a vision of the man and the personality he had. My first reaction while reading this book was absolute horror with my ignorance. After I recovered from the shocking truth I found this book to be extremely well written and most likely very accurate. If you want to live with visions of the Little Prince in mind this is not the book for you. If you want to gain an understanding of what Saint-Exuprey was like and how his life trials contributed to his work then this one's for you.

Rating:
Summary: Wind, Saint(-Exupery)and Stars *****
Review: I went through a period in my early twenties when I read most of Saint-Exupery's books. I could not read them without a pencil for underlining since his thoughts and insights touched a deep chord within me. This was my Rilke and Whitman period and Saint-Ex kept perfect company with them. When I learned of Schiff's biography recently, I ordered it immediately. I have 100 or so pages left to read and I find I am reading it very s_l_o_w_l_y like the long goodbyes I have with friends I don't want to leave. She writes beautifully and does not canonize this Saint but surely lets us know he has earned his place in the stars. Thank you,Ms Schiff, for reacquainting me with a lost love.

Rating:
Summary: This book is outstanding.
Review: If you enjoy the work of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, you will certainly enjoy the clarity that this biography lends to his writing. He is truly a fascinating and charming man.

Rating:
Summary: Good overview of the life
Review: Unfortunately most people know St. Ex as a kind of iconic figure, with no sense of who he actually was. This biography provides a good overview of the various phases of his life, although it tends a little much (for me) toward psychological analysis. The first few chapters, which describe what probably was for St. Ex the best period in his life, are particularly well done.

I had two minor problems with the book, which does not reduce its value as a good general biography. One was the tendency to treat St. Ex's work in terms of how close or far it strays from "true" fiction, as if fiction is the ultimate form, rather than assessing the work on its own terms. I also found the ending quite abrupt -- I would have expected a little more discussion about his legacy as an author and how his reputation has fared since his death. Otherwise, a beautifully written book and a good read. REB