<The Little Prince>, Antoine De Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince (Paperback, 미국판) - 어린 왕자 영문판 원서
생 텍쥐페리 지음, 리차드 하워드 옮김 / Harcourt / 2000년 6월

  This book is very famous. It's probably a famous book that I wonder if it's harder to find people who don't know this book. My first memorable reading of The Little Prince was in elementary school. I don't remember the exact grade, but I remember The Little Prince for the line “For instance, if you come at four in the afternoon, I’ll begin to be happy by three". I don't remember that phrase because I finished the book at that age. It was a famous book that was on every elementary school reading list, and I wanted to read it because of its reputation. Given that I remember the story of the boa constrictor that looked like a hat, I think I must have tried to read it a few times.  

  I also remember another attempt after that. At first, I think I just didn't enjoy it, so I gave up. Then, when I started reading it again, I think it was difficult. What I remember is the evaluation and feeling of 'Why on earth is this book a must-read for elementary school students!' without even finishing it, and the complaint that 'Elementary school students read this book and understand it and feel something? Am I not good enough?' is how I feel about this book.

  I bought the book a long time ago. I read this book first to study English and transcribe it together. I remembered that the Korean version was not easy either. I looked for a translation of the this book and started reading it. The difference from the past is that I read this book all the way through. What hasn't changed is that it's still difficult, and I don't think it's a must-read for elementary school students.

  In an essay I recently read by Seon-ran Cheon, she said that she read this book as an adult. She said she cried a lot. But I didn't. Not everyone can feel the same way about the same book. Still, I guess I was hoping and expecting to feel something different when I read this book than when I tried it as a child. But The Little Prince is still a difficult book for me. Maybe it's because I've already become a worldly adult. Maybe the people the little prince met before he arrived on Earth are me. The adults who don't see what's important, whose minds are closed.

  I don't know when I will read this book again. I thought it might be good to share with my children. But I can't recommend a book that is difficult for me to read to them. They are still children, and they might like this book differently from me, so I'm going to keep both this book and the Korean version on my bookshelf. I want my children to be able to see with their minds what they can't see with their eyes.

"For me you’re only a little boy just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you have no need of me, either. For you I’m only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, we’ll need each other. You’ll be the only boy in the world for me. I’ll be the only fox in the world for you..." - P59

But if you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. - P59

For instance, if you come at four in the afternoon, I’ll begin to be happy by three. The closer it gets to four, the happier I’ll feel. By four I’ll be all excited and worried; I’ll discover what it costs to be happy! - P61

One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes. - P63

You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. - P64

If you love a flower that lives on a star, then it’s good, at night, to look up at the sky. - P76