THE LITTLE PRINCE is French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery's most famous novella. It has been translated into more than 190 languages and sold more than 200 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books ever. The story, first published in 1943, is about a pilot who must make an emergency landing in the desert because of engine problems. This is ironic, since the author himself took off in a plane over the Mediterranean just a year later and was never seen or heard from again. This timeless story has been adapted to various media over the decades, including stage, screen and operatic works.