The Little Prince Collection — Leni on the Road

The Little Prince is a classic short novel written by French author and pilot, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that has been beloved by readers of all ages for decades. The story follows a young prince who has left his own asteroid and travels to Earth, where he encounters a number of eccentric characters and learns important lessons about love, friendship, and the meaning of life.

One of the most famous main takeaways of The Little Prince is the idea that what is truly important in life cannot be seen with the naked eye: l’essentiel est invisible aux yeux. Another is the rose: while to others is just a small, ordinary plant, is a symbol of the love and beauty that he holds dear. Finally, the prince's friendship with the narrator, a pilot who has crash-landed in the desert, is based on a deep understanding and appreciation of each other's unique qualities, rather than any tangible possessions or status.

French version thrifted in the Philippines

Another key theme of The Little Prince is the importance of imagination and play in maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. The prince is able to see the beauty and magic in the ordinary, mundane aspects of life, and this allows him to appreciate the world in a way that many adults have forgotten how to do.

The adult narrator learns this lesson from the Little Prince, a young boy from another planet who has come to Earth to learn about its people and their ways. The Little Prince's childlike perspective allows him to see and appreciate the beauty and wonder in the world, and he encourages the narrator to do the same.

In adult life, the lessons of this book can be applied in a number of ways. It reminds us to maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world, even as we grow older, and become too preoccupied and jaded. It can also be a reminder to value the simple pleasures and relationships in life and to not get too caught up in the material and superficial aspects of adult life.

The Little Prince, albeit a quick and short read, is a powerful and poignant story that has the ability to move readers of all ages. Its themes of love, friendship, and the value of imagination are timeless and continue to resonate with readers today. Whether you are reading it for the first time or revisiting it as an adult, The Little Prince is a book that is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. It definitely did on me. The impact of The Little Prince on an individual can vary greatly, as everyone has their own unique experiences and interpretations of the book. It speaks to universal themes and emotions that are relevant to all of us.

English & Filipino versions from the Philippines

First encounter with the classic tale

The first time I ever heard about this story was through a theatre play. One of the educational field trips in school took us to a theatre in the Philippine capital to witness a short skit of this classic story. It didn’t have any magical or special effect on me that day. My preoccupation during that time was to go back to the bus and hang out with my friends. Back then, I paid attention to the play not because I found it whimsical, but because I was doing my “job” as a pupil, to pay attention as part of my requirements for school.

Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian from the Baltic States

Intimate experience

In 2015, during my early days in Rouen, and as I was cooling down from a week-long battle with paper work, I bought a cinema ticket to watch the animation of the Little Prince in its original English version. I was alone in the theatre. I literally had the theatre all to myself - for the first time ever - in a foreign land watching a seemingly familiar story. I found myself crying, heart pierced, wailing even, with popcorn and a soda. Why? I have no idea, but at that moment I felt so vulnerable and susceptible that every touching scene appeared to have affected me.

From a lasting impression to a collection

This short story is translated into over 250 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide. I acquired my first copy in its original language, French, in a thrift shop back in the Philippines. I remember paying 10 Php for it and it has been one of my most treasured possessions ever. Sometime in 2019, during one of my many travels to Lithuania, I decided to start a collection. I would buy the local language’s version of each country I would visit since then. To date, I have 11 different versions of the said book and here’s a quick rundown of the acquisition of these copies.

French version

The first version I ever owned. I got it during one of my regular visits to the University thrift shop for 10 Php. Foreign books in the Philippines do not cost a lot, and every find I get is a treasure. I consider it to be a privilege to have read the original version in French for the first time. At that time, my French was awful and I could only understand a few bits but that was already enough for me.

Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian

In 2019, during my second time in Klaipeda, Lithuania, B and I travelled along the three Baltic States. It was during this weekend that I decided I wanted to make a Little Prince collection of my own. That realization came to me when we were in my favourite bookstore in Klapeida where I bought the Lithuanian version. I bought the Estonian version on our first day there, and the Latvian version, which I purchased hastily while waiting for our bus back to Lithuania.

English and Filipino

Before emigrating in 2020, my friend R gifted me with the English version of the Little Prince. She also helped me scout for the Filipino version of the book.

Spanish

In the Summer of 2021, I made a stop at a local bookstore in Malaga after the free-walking tour and lunch with my friend D, just before heading back to our aparthotel.

Dutch

During a weekend in the Dutch capital in the early summer of 2022, I stopped by a suburban bookstore before meeting D & R in our AirBnB to purchase this Dutch version of the Little Prince, alongside some postcards to write on and send.

Portuguese versions from Brazil & Portugal

Finnish

After enjoying a cinnamon bun in Regatta Café in Helsinki, while exploring the Finnish capital, B and I stopped by a bookstore near our hotel to acquire the Finnish version of this book to add to my growing collection.

Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese

While walking around the old mine capital of Brazil, Ouro Preto, in search of a restaurant to dine in, we encountered a street bookstore owner setting up his inventory along an inclined street. I found the sole Brazilian Portuguese copy in his inventory but I had no cash with me, nor did he accept cards. I almost gave up on the idea of obtaining this version from this humble seller, when my friend V surprised me by buying it for me in the guise of “asking for recommendations for lunch in the area”.

Two weeks later, while waiting for my connecting flight from Lisboa to Paris, I was curious to find out if the Brazilian and European Portuguese versions were different so I bought a European Portuguese copy from a bookstore in the airport (FNAC). I have yet to sit down and make my own analysis of how different these two versions can be.

Copy of the Original Manuscript

B generously gifted me a “The Little Prince” pack for Christmas 2022. This pack includes a mug, a commemorative coin, postcards, a notebook, a facemask and ultimately a copy of the original manuscript and annotations of this masterpiece. I was not expecting this and I think this is the ultimate gift to an amateur-collector.

Side note: amateur, in French, the word means “lover” (Show Me Your Work by Kleon, Austin, p. 12) I highly recommend reading his book for a refreshing take on “amateurs”. You can view my main takeaways and annotations here.

My minimalist side is torn between acquiring, keeping and caring for this growing collection. Nevertheless, it has been a source of joy having this at home. It reminds me of one of my greatest passion: language and that this experience of going through life is universal, no matter which language you speak. My hope is that I can set aside a few hours or days to flip through all of these copies and not have to wait for retirement to be able to enjoy them.