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The possible meaning of 43 sunsets
As we mentioned earlier on this web site, original French text of 43 sunsets was changed in first English translation by Katherine Woods to 44 sunsets. Many argued that she did this in honor of Exupery, he was 44 when he died. But did she forget to honor something else, something Exupery wanted to be lesson in history for all of us. For unknown reason same mistake repeated in many foreign translation (have they even bother to read the original text) and new 2000 English translation of Richard Howard.
May 10, 1940 - Nazis invade France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister.
June 22, 1940 - France signs an armistice with the Nazis.
It took 43 sunsets to conquer the home of Exupery by Nazi forces in early 1940. That is why Little Prince (Exupery) was so said on the day of the forty-third sunset. It was the last sunset of the free France. Exupery died during the WWII and never saw his country free again. After writing the book Exupery returned to Europe to fight.
| Chapter VI
Oh, Little Prince! Bit by bit I came to understand the secrets of your sad little life... "I am always thinking that I am at home!" Just so. Everybody knows that when it is noon in the United States the sun is setting over France. If you could fly to France in one minute, you could go straight into the sunset, right from noon. Unfortunately, France is too far away for that... "One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-three times!" And a little later you added: "You know-- one loves the sunset, when one is so sad..." "Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-three sunsets?" But the little prince made no reply. Note: fourty-four was changed into original Franch forty-three in this text. |