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Beautiful Designs from the beloved book, “The Little Prince” but has some issues - printed on both sides of non-perforated paper
#1 REVIEWER#1 HALL OF FAMEon December 10, 2015
Attached to this review will be a silent flip-through of the entire coloring book so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it will work for you.
This is a wonderful coloring book for fans of “The Little Prince”. The artwork is derived from the original artwork in the book but has been put together in a way to make it more fun to color. Additionally, there are also excerpts on each page from the English translation of the story. It gives you a feel for what the book is about but it is not a re-telling of the whole story. The line work on the designs is very delicate. Some designs are open and easy to color while others have many intricate and small details. I went back and re-acquainted myself with the with the original story (though the English translation!) What I didn't realize as a child was how adult the many themes of this book were. What I remember from reading it as a child was thinking both how wonderful and how sad it would be to be the little prince.
The designs are printed on both sides of non-perforated paper. Most of the designs spread across two pages. Most of the pages in my book did not line up well, so the two-page spreads were off. Most designs merge into the binding and and part of the design appear lost in it. The binding is sewn although the cover and the very edge of the bound book seem to be glued together. I think it is a matter of cutting threads to remove pages – though it appears that if you cut threads, the entire book will come apart as it is sewn from front to back with multiple threads. I could get the book to lay fairly flat by “breaking” the spine with a hard crease. That exposed the parts of the design that were missing at the bound edge but it will make it easier to color into the inside portions.
All markers and gel pens either bleed through or leave a noticeable color shadow on the reverse side of the page. My coloring pencils (soft core and hard) worked well on the paper. For me, the book will have to be for coloring pencils only. Taking the book apart is problematic as I'll never get the images to line up and it appears that small amounts of the design are missing from where the two-page spread designs come together.
While I love the illustrations, the publishing issues (two-pages spreads, missing design work, mis-aligned pages, etc.) as well as the inability to use anything other than coloring pencils cause me to detract a star from my rating. If I were reviewing only the artwork, this book would be fantastic; however, it is a book I intend to color in and the other issues present problems that may well keep others from contemplating buying this coloring book.
This is a wonderful coloring book for fans of “The Little Prince”. The artwork is derived from the original artwork in the book but has been put together in a way to make it more fun to color. Additionally, there are also excerpts on each page from the English translation of the story. It gives you a feel for what the book is about but it is not a re-telling of the whole story. The line work on the designs is very delicate. Some designs are open and easy to color while others have many intricate and small details. I went back and re-acquainted myself with the with the original story (though the English translation!) What I didn't realize as a child was how adult the many themes of this book were. What I remember from reading it as a child was thinking both how wonderful and how sad it would be to be the little prince.
The designs are printed on both sides of non-perforated paper. Most of the designs spread across two pages. Most of the pages in my book did not line up well, so the two-page spreads were off. Most designs merge into the binding and and part of the design appear lost in it. The binding is sewn although the cover and the very edge of the bound book seem to be glued together. I think it is a matter of cutting threads to remove pages – though it appears that if you cut threads, the entire book will come apart as it is sewn from front to back with multiple threads. I could get the book to lay fairly flat by “breaking” the spine with a hard crease. That exposed the parts of the design that were missing at the bound edge but it will make it easier to color into the inside portions.
All markers and gel pens either bleed through or leave a noticeable color shadow on the reverse side of the page. My coloring pencils (soft core and hard) worked well on the paper. For me, the book will have to be for coloring pencils only. Taking the book apart is problematic as I'll never get the images to line up and it appears that small amounts of the design are missing from where the two-page spread designs come together.
While I love the illustrations, the publishing issues (two-pages spreads, missing design work, mis-aligned pages, etc.) as well as the inability to use anything other than coloring pencils cause me to detract a star from my rating. If I were reviewing only the artwork, this book would be fantastic; however, it is a book I intend to color in and the other issues present problems that may well keep others from contemplating buying this coloring book.
on May 25, 2015
This appears to be the Katherine Woods translation, which many people regard as the best (much better than the newer translation by Richard Howard). However, this edition contains no illustrations except for the ones in the first chapter. Also, it doesn't include any credit to the translator. (I assume that this is the Katherine Woods version, since several sentences are exactly the same as her translation.)
Since I purchased this book only to use as a translation aid when I don't understand a word or phrase in the French kindle version (which includes the illustrations, but in black & white), I'll keep the book, but would recommend against it for anyone who is reading only the English translation, since the charming illustrations are an important part of the book.
I'm giving this edition one star because of the missing illustrations, but the story itself deserves five stars. I recommend buying a different edition of the Katherine Woods translation.
Since I purchased this book only to use as a translation aid when I don't understand a word or phrase in the French kindle version (which includes the illustrations, but in black & white), I'll keep the book, but would recommend against it for anyone who is reading only the English translation, since the charming illustrations are an important part of the book.
I'm giving this edition one star because of the missing illustrations, but the story itself deserves five stars. I recommend buying a different edition of the Katherine Woods translation.
on January 9, 2016
NOT the Katherine Woods translation! The Richard Howard translation lacks the poetical feeling that the original Katherine Woods translation had. Decently reproduced original artwork but the shading is a bit off.
on January 22, 2014
This is a wonderful story, so my expectations were high for the popup version. I was blown away. The paper popups are intricate without being flimsy and perfectly bring to life the events and characters. It's worth the extra money.
If you're not familiar with The Little Prince, it's a story of a plane-wrecked pilot who meets someone who will fast teach him deep, tough lessons in beautifully simplistic, childlike ways. He quickly becomes attached to this little explorer as he learns more about the folly of grown-ups and the depth of truly living.
If you're not familiar with The Little Prince, it's a story of a plane-wrecked pilot who meets someone who will fast teach him deep, tough lessons in beautifully simplistic, childlike ways. He quickly becomes attached to this little explorer as he learns more about the folly of grown-ups and the depth of truly living.
on April 17, 2017
First, it amazes me that this book is in so many different languages, and has such a following, but I have never had the inclination to read it until I read The Book Jumper. I loved this book with it's sweetness, insight, and charm. The Little Prince leaves his very small planet that he is from and the flower that he has tended to go on an adventure to learn new things and make friends. He visits several planets, but cannot make sense of them. Each one has a character with an attribute that can often be found in adults and the world. As Exupery has his fun with these characters, the little prince moves toward new adventures. On earth, he meets a pilot that he talks to. The two talk about Earth, his world, and the flower he left behind, whom he misses deeply. In his travels here The Little Prince sees other flowers like his- roses- but realizes that they aren't as special. He also finds a friend in a fox that he tames and grows to love and care for.
I found this small book profound in that, at least to me, it reminds us of the things that we care about. The relationships we create are what makes things special and important. He missed his friend the rose so much that he found a way to return to his planet a year after leaving. It reminded me to take time to tend to my own special things, and be aware of the loved ones I have. To allow time for magic, and not take my adult self too very seriously. In this way, though it is written for children, I feel that adults need to reread this too. Plus, it is just a great story. Five stars!
Now, this book is so popular that not only did it get translated into 300 languages and has had at least two authors write stories to take place later with The Little Prince. The Little Prince Returns was written by Jean-Pierre Davidts where a shipwrecked narrator finds The Little Prince on a deserted island. Ysatis de Saint Simone (niece of Consuelo de Saint Exupery) wrote one entitled The Return of The Little Prince. There were movie adaptations, stage plays, opera, anime, pop-up books and graphic novels (I have to find this!) It has it's own swag-bags, socks, toys and adult coloring book. Honestly, this is not just a book, it's a following! I am not ashamed to say that I am a bit obsessed. Thank goodness I took the time to read this one.
As there is no real adult content (one planet has a drunk), I would say that this book is for everyone. Have you read it?
I found this small book profound in that, at least to me, it reminds us of the things that we care about. The relationships we create are what makes things special and important. He missed his friend the rose so much that he found a way to return to his planet a year after leaving. It reminded me to take time to tend to my own special things, and be aware of the loved ones I have. To allow time for magic, and not take my adult self too very seriously. In this way, though it is written for children, I feel that adults need to reread this too. Plus, it is just a great story. Five stars!
Now, this book is so popular that not only did it get translated into 300 languages and has had at least two authors write stories to take place later with The Little Prince. The Little Prince Returns was written by Jean-Pierre Davidts where a shipwrecked narrator finds The Little Prince on a deserted island. Ysatis de Saint Simone (niece of Consuelo de Saint Exupery) wrote one entitled The Return of The Little Prince. There were movie adaptations, stage plays, opera, anime, pop-up books and graphic novels (I have to find this!) It has it's own swag-bags, socks, toys and adult coloring book. Honestly, this is not just a book, it's a following! I am not ashamed to say that I am a bit obsessed. Thank goodness I took the time to read this one.
As there is no real adult content (one planet has a drunk), I would say that this book is for everyone. Have you read it?
Only Woods' timeless, poetic translation captures the essential of de Saint Exupéry's story - 5-stars! Howard's, 1-star.
on January 2, 2015
Katherine Woods' simple and beautiful translation is the only one that does justice to The Little Prince. Published by Harcourt in 1943 and 1971, her English translation is the essential --- the translation loved and quoted by English-speaking people around the world, even by members of English- and French-speaking Canadian Parliament! But hers is OUT OF PRINT by Harcourt (who copyrighted her translation in 1943), so snatch up used copies while you may, or be certain you are getting hers in any new or used publication!
Beware of the "new translation" by Richard Howard, first published in 2000; I accidentally got one. Ouch! His "new" translation purges meaning and is not worth the money. It gives a falseness to one of the most sincere stories ever written. Howard's lacks beauty and is at times unintelligible: It simply does not make sense. Since Howard has no apparent understanding of the truths expressed in The Little Prince, this is not to be wondered at. I have never found a translation by anyone else to equal that by Katherine Woods. (Note: I have never, EVER found a decent copy of any translation by Barnes and Noble of a non-English work.)
If the translator's name is not given an any edition, don't buy it! The large print by Thorndike Press falls into this category. Too often it lacks the beauty of Katherine Woods' translation, although it does seem a little better than Richard Howard's. However, that's not saying much, and I suggest buying the Katherine Woods' translation and using a magnifying glass. Hers is worth the effort! I compare here Woods' and Howard's translations, but I feel it has value for those contemplating buying the Thorndike Press one, as well. One example from the Thorndike Press translation: near the end, the words of the little prince read as follows: "When you look up at the sky at night, since I shall be living on one of them and laughing on one of them, for you it will be as if all the stars were laughing. You and only you will have start that can laugh!"
In the Katherine Woods translation (Chapter XXVI), the little prince says, "You -- you alone will have the stars as no one else has them"..."In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night...You -- only you -- will have stars that can laugh!" (quoted by actor Robin Williams' daughter Zelda, age 25, in tribute at his passing**). Neither Howard's translation nor the Thorndike one can match that for meaning, poignancy, or interpretation of de Saint Exupéry's words. Howard's lacks not only meaning but also heart, while Katherine Woods' translation captures both -- a matter of great consequence ("matters of consequence" being one theme that runs through the book) since Le Petit Prince is full of heart.
One example says it all: The fox's "secret" told to the little prince in parting (Chapter XXI) ---
Katherine Woods' translation reads: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." She uses the beautiful rhetorical mode: "What is essential..." In the original French: "...on ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." In English, "l'essentiel" might be rendered "the essential things" or be put, as Woods does, in the rhetorical form: "What is essential..."
Howard's "new" translation of the same line reads: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." Huh? "Anything essential is invisible to the eyes"? Far from expressing Antoine de Saint Exupéry's meaning, this generalization means, in effect, nothing. And it is obviously not true: Water is essential, and you can see it (more or less).
Katherine Woods' exquisite translation captures the essence of this line: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Quintessential, no line in the book is more important. It epitomizes her entire translation. (Woods employs the poetic English idiom "eye" for "les yeux", a superior choice of wording.) It is ironic that, in translating The Little Prince, Richard Howard should lose "that which is essential" and that he should be unable to "see with his heart."
Amazon.com's Editorial Review on HOWARD'S translation once said that "Katherine Woods sometimes wandered off the mark, giving the text a slightly wooden or didactic accent. Happily, Richard Howard...has streamlined and simplified to wonderful effect."
This would have been more accurately written thus:
"Katherine Woods uses poetic devices and a didactic accent to wonderful effect, capturing the essence and meaning of Antoine de Saint Exupéry's classic tale in a timeless translation. Unhappily and unfortunately, Richard Howard...has streamlined and simplified in a words-only translation, and he wanders off the mark, obscuring what were otherwise truths both simple and profound, giving the text a wooden effect."
Woods' translation is the one that I read and re-read, and which helped me to understand why I grieved so when my great-grandmother died. We'd spent so much time with her. As the fox says to the little prince in explaining why HIS rose is so significant to him, "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." He explains that HIS rose is "unique in all the world" ("unique du monde" which Howard translates, in toto, as "the only rose in the world" -- another bit of nonsense). This passage in Woods' translation also helps me keep in mind what I'm doing with my time, and why. If I watch T.V. the most, then T.V. becomes the most important. If I pass the time with my family, they become the most important.
Another always-to-be-remembered example of a passage from Woods' translation occurs when the little prince must say goodbye to the fox:
The fox says, "Ah, I shall cry."
"It's your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
"Then it has done you no good at all!"
"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields."
Before the little prince tamed the fox, the wheat fields (les champs de blé) had "nothing to say to" the fox. "But," he had said to the little prince, "you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat..."
Once I disliked giant sunflowers. Then I discovered that someone I love liked them very much. So we planted some and cared for them together. Now, when I see giant sunflowers, I remember him and my heart is happy. I understand....because of Katherine Woods' translation of Le Petit Prince. It is as beautiful, profound and timeless today as it was over 70 years ago.
--------------
NOTE: There is another publication by Wordsworth Classics: The Little Prince (Wordsworth Children's Classics) (Wordsworth Collection) with a translation by Irene Testot-Ferry which is ALMOST identical to the Woods translation, at least in the places I've checked. The pictures are in grayscale, not color, and the paper is similar to newsprint.
There are downloadable PDFs of the Woods translation online. Find one that includes the translator, though. It's not a bound-book-in-hand, but it's at least Woods' superior translation and it's free.
One way to get the Katherine Woods' translation is to make sure you are buying ISBN: 0-15-246507-3 (0152465073). As for Howard's translation, "NEW" is not better; it's just "new." Sometimes you can tell the difference between the two translations simply by the covers. Woods' shows the little prince on a white background; Howard's is on midnight blue, but check the ISBNs and, most of all, double check the translator and make sure you're getting the Katherine Woods translation. More Howard translations continue to be published in various, different editions and bindings. It is easy to lose track of one's search for the Katherine Woods translation amidst the plethora of "same-Howard-new-wrapping" publications.
Be aware that ISBN 978-547-97884-0 The Little Prince is the Howard translation with a very long forward/introduction by Gregory Maguire (published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013), a writer who doesn't speak French, although he says his "husband" does, pokes fun at the author's French name and the French language for a gimmick, hasn't researched the author much at all, and who seems not to know he isn't reading the translation that he (as he says) read in high school, which had to have been Woods' given that Maguire is 60 years old -- this, even though he is about to write a forward requested by the publisher. His at times inappropriate, pages-long forward -- which is more about Maguire by far than about The Little Prince -- is a good reason NOT to by that edition, if Howard's translation isn't reason enough.
Near the top right front corner of this Howard/Maguire edition's brown cover is imprinted the example of Howard's "nonsense" that I quoted above: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." A clue, that. What a difference from Woods' rendering: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Quintessential. THIS is what Antoine de Saint Exupéry's original French text means.
Readers should know that there is a 2013 edition in English deceptively subtitled "60th-Anniversary Edition." It is the Richard HOWARD translation, which had been just over a decade (2000).
The only "60th-Anniversary Edition" in English, that could justifiably be called thus, would be the Katherine Woods' translation -- the first English translation to be published just after Antoine de Saint Exupéry's original story Le Petit Prince (in his native French) came out in 1943; Woods' translation was published that same year. Wrapping up Howard's translation under the subtitle "60th-Anniversary Edition" is a piece of false marketing by Harcourt.
Harcourt is so intent on pushing Richard Howard's translation that the publishing house has put out a children's pop-up book based on the Howard translation, thus recruiting readers at as young an age as possible -- a literary crime, in my opinion. Their desire to make money overshadows their desire to publish the best English translation possible.
SOURCES:
Katherine Woods' superior translation: NY: Harvest/HBJ Book, Harcourt, 1971, pp. 83, 86, 87. (Katherine Woods, translator).
Richard Howard's inferior translation: 2 San Diego, CA: A Harvest Book, Harcourt Inc., 2000, p. 63. (Richard Howard, translator). Various editions.
Thorndike Press. April 20, 2005). No translator given. ISBN-10: 0786275391 and ISBN-13: 978-0786275397
Howard's Translator's Note, by the way, illustrates why he should NOT have undertaken a re-translation of Le Petit Prince.
[** Note: Review revised slightly in August 2014 to include Zelda Williams' quotation of the Woods translation.--Allie J.]
Beware of the "new translation" by Richard Howard, first published in 2000; I accidentally got one. Ouch! His "new" translation purges meaning and is not worth the money. It gives a falseness to one of the most sincere stories ever written. Howard's lacks beauty and is at times unintelligible: It simply does not make sense. Since Howard has no apparent understanding of the truths expressed in The Little Prince, this is not to be wondered at. I have never found a translation by anyone else to equal that by Katherine Woods. (Note: I have never, EVER found a decent copy of any translation by Barnes and Noble of a non-English work.)
If the translator's name is not given an any edition, don't buy it! The large print by Thorndike Press falls into this category. Too often it lacks the beauty of Katherine Woods' translation, although it does seem a little better than Richard Howard's. However, that's not saying much, and I suggest buying the Katherine Woods' translation and using a magnifying glass. Hers is worth the effort! I compare here Woods' and Howard's translations, but I feel it has value for those contemplating buying the Thorndike Press one, as well. One example from the Thorndike Press translation: near the end, the words of the little prince read as follows: "When you look up at the sky at night, since I shall be living on one of them and laughing on one of them, for you it will be as if all the stars were laughing. You and only you will have start that can laugh!"
In the Katherine Woods translation (Chapter XXVI), the little prince says, "You -- you alone will have the stars as no one else has them"..."In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night...You -- only you -- will have stars that can laugh!" (quoted by actor Robin Williams' daughter Zelda, age 25, in tribute at his passing**). Neither Howard's translation nor the Thorndike one can match that for meaning, poignancy, or interpretation of de Saint Exupéry's words. Howard's lacks not only meaning but also heart, while Katherine Woods' translation captures both -- a matter of great consequence ("matters of consequence" being one theme that runs through the book) since Le Petit Prince is full of heart.
One example says it all: The fox's "secret" told to the little prince in parting (Chapter XXI) ---
Katherine Woods' translation reads: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." She uses the beautiful rhetorical mode: "What is essential..." In the original French: "...on ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." In English, "l'essentiel" might be rendered "the essential things" or be put, as Woods does, in the rhetorical form: "What is essential..."
Howard's "new" translation of the same line reads: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." Huh? "Anything essential is invisible to the eyes"? Far from expressing Antoine de Saint Exupéry's meaning, this generalization means, in effect, nothing. And it is obviously not true: Water is essential, and you can see it (more or less).
Katherine Woods' exquisite translation captures the essence of this line: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Quintessential, no line in the book is more important. It epitomizes her entire translation. (Woods employs the poetic English idiom "eye" for "les yeux", a superior choice of wording.) It is ironic that, in translating The Little Prince, Richard Howard should lose "that which is essential" and that he should be unable to "see with his heart."
Amazon.com's Editorial Review on HOWARD'S translation once said that "Katherine Woods sometimes wandered off the mark, giving the text a slightly wooden or didactic accent. Happily, Richard Howard...has streamlined and simplified to wonderful effect."
This would have been more accurately written thus:
"Katherine Woods uses poetic devices and a didactic accent to wonderful effect, capturing the essence and meaning of Antoine de Saint Exupéry's classic tale in a timeless translation. Unhappily and unfortunately, Richard Howard...has streamlined and simplified in a words-only translation, and he wanders off the mark, obscuring what were otherwise truths both simple and profound, giving the text a wooden effect."
Woods' translation is the one that I read and re-read, and which helped me to understand why I grieved so when my great-grandmother died. We'd spent so much time with her. As the fox says to the little prince in explaining why HIS rose is so significant to him, "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." He explains that HIS rose is "unique in all the world" ("unique du monde" which Howard translates, in toto, as "the only rose in the world" -- another bit of nonsense). This passage in Woods' translation also helps me keep in mind what I'm doing with my time, and why. If I watch T.V. the most, then T.V. becomes the most important. If I pass the time with my family, they become the most important.
Another always-to-be-remembered example of a passage from Woods' translation occurs when the little prince must say goodbye to the fox:
The fox says, "Ah, I shall cry."
"It's your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
"Then it has done you no good at all!"
"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields."
Before the little prince tamed the fox, the wheat fields (les champs de blé) had "nothing to say to" the fox. "But," he had said to the little prince, "you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat..."
Once I disliked giant sunflowers. Then I discovered that someone I love liked them very much. So we planted some and cared for them together. Now, when I see giant sunflowers, I remember him and my heart is happy. I understand....because of Katherine Woods' translation of Le Petit Prince. It is as beautiful, profound and timeless today as it was over 70 years ago.
--------------
NOTE: There is another publication by Wordsworth Classics: The Little Prince (Wordsworth Children's Classics) (Wordsworth Collection) with a translation by Irene Testot-Ferry which is ALMOST identical to the Woods translation, at least in the places I've checked. The pictures are in grayscale, not color, and the paper is similar to newsprint.
There are downloadable PDFs of the Woods translation online. Find one that includes the translator, though. It's not a bound-book-in-hand, but it's at least Woods' superior translation and it's free.
One way to get the Katherine Woods' translation is to make sure you are buying ISBN: 0-15-246507-3 (0152465073). As for Howard's translation, "NEW" is not better; it's just "new." Sometimes you can tell the difference between the two translations simply by the covers. Woods' shows the little prince on a white background; Howard's is on midnight blue, but check the ISBNs and, most of all, double check the translator and make sure you're getting the Katherine Woods translation. More Howard translations continue to be published in various, different editions and bindings. It is easy to lose track of one's search for the Katherine Woods translation amidst the plethora of "same-Howard-new-wrapping" publications.
Be aware that ISBN 978-547-97884-0 The Little Prince is the Howard translation with a very long forward/introduction by Gregory Maguire (published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013), a writer who doesn't speak French, although he says his "husband" does, pokes fun at the author's French name and the French language for a gimmick, hasn't researched the author much at all, and who seems not to know he isn't reading the translation that he (as he says) read in high school, which had to have been Woods' given that Maguire is 60 years old -- this, even though he is about to write a forward requested by the publisher. His at times inappropriate, pages-long forward -- which is more about Maguire by far than about The Little Prince -- is a good reason NOT to by that edition, if Howard's translation isn't reason enough.
Near the top right front corner of this Howard/Maguire edition's brown cover is imprinted the example of Howard's "nonsense" that I quoted above: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." A clue, that. What a difference from Woods' rendering: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Quintessential. THIS is what Antoine de Saint Exupéry's original French text means.
Readers should know that there is a 2013 edition in English deceptively subtitled "60th-Anniversary Edition." It is the Richard HOWARD translation, which had been just over a decade (2000).
The only "60th-Anniversary Edition" in English, that could justifiably be called thus, would be the Katherine Woods' translation -- the first English translation to be published just after Antoine de Saint Exupéry's original story Le Petit Prince (in his native French) came out in 1943; Woods' translation was published that same year. Wrapping up Howard's translation under the subtitle "60th-Anniversary Edition" is a piece of false marketing by Harcourt.
Harcourt is so intent on pushing Richard Howard's translation that the publishing house has put out a children's pop-up book based on the Howard translation, thus recruiting readers at as young an age as possible -- a literary crime, in my opinion. Their desire to make money overshadows their desire to publish the best English translation possible.
SOURCES:
Katherine Woods' superior translation: NY: Harvest/HBJ Book, Harcourt, 1971, pp. 83, 86, 87. (Katherine Woods, translator).
Richard Howard's inferior translation: 2 San Diego, CA: A Harvest Book, Harcourt Inc., 2000, p. 63. (Richard Howard, translator). Various editions.
Thorndike Press. April 20, 2005). No translator given. ISBN-10: 0786275391 and ISBN-13: 978-0786275397
Howard's Translator's Note, by the way, illustrates why he should NOT have undertaken a re-translation of Le Petit Prince.
[** Note: Review revised slightly in August 2014 to include Zelda Williams' quotation of the Woods translation.--Allie J.]
on August 21, 2015
great story if it was the whole deal !!!
that copy is terrible though
the pictures from the real edition are not there
just the text
it looks like an illegal copy...with no copyright date
no editors name
no traductor name...
look like someone just scan and printed it !!!
that copy is terrible though
the pictures from the real edition are not there
just the text
it looks like an illegal copy...with no copyright date
no editors name
no traductor name...
look like someone just scan and printed it !!!
on June 2, 2016
All of the reviews are correct - this book appears to be a horrible knock off of an original version. If you are looking for good quality with all the original images - its not there. Such a disappointment.
on May 10, 2013
I have had a very interesting time purchasing this book, but everything came together in the end--allow me to explain:
- I was determined to purchase a hardcover copy of the Katherine Woods translation of The Little Prince.
- As I was giving the book as a gift, I thought this particular copy (ISBN-10 0891903313) would be an attractive choice.
- Prior to purchasing, I wanted to confirm who did the translation into English--Woods, Howard, or someone else altogether?
- I don't know if you have noticed, but this information IS NOT on the Amazon product detail page.
- I scoured the reviews; however, as far as I could tell, there are no reviews specific to this product on the product page that tell who the translator is--all refer to other copies of the book rather than ISBN-10 0891903313.
- I scoured the internet via every Google search I could think of to try to find out who did the translation for this copy--no luck there.
- My next course of action was to contact the seller--Amazon. After 30 minutes on chat with a Amazon associate, said associate determined the information was not available and advised me to contact the publisher. I replied that perhaps Amazon should contact the publisher to provide this information, since Amazon is selling the product. The associate agreed and said I would receive a follow-up email with this information within 48 hours. That was on April 30. It is now May 10 and I have not been contacted.
- I did call the publisher and spoke with someone at Amereon--however, they did not know the translator off hand and have not returned my call. My subsequent calls went unanswered.
- After 48 hours had passed since my chat with the Amazon associate, I decided to call Amazon to follow-up. Another associate did his best to find the information via Google--however, he had no more luck than I did. After 30 minutes, he advised me to contact one of the other sellers of the book to find this information. I pushed back because I planned to purchase to the book from Amazon--if you are telling me to ask a seller of the book for this information, aren't you confirming that you should know, since you are the seller of the book that I plan to purchase from? Finally, the conversation ended with him sending me an email and promising follow-up within 48 hours. That was on May 2 and it is now May 10. I have not heard back.
- Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I just ordered the book. I received it yesterday and I am happy to confirm that this is the Katherine Woods translation! The pictures are black and white which I really like. It is really a beautiful book and exactly what I was looking for.
Let the record show that this is a Katherine Woods translation. Amazon, I hope you will update the product detail page...and maybe get back to your customers when you say you will! But no hard feelings :).
- I was determined to purchase a hardcover copy of the Katherine Woods translation of The Little Prince.
- As I was giving the book as a gift, I thought this particular copy (ISBN-10 0891903313) would be an attractive choice.
- Prior to purchasing, I wanted to confirm who did the translation into English--Woods, Howard, or someone else altogether?
- I don't know if you have noticed, but this information IS NOT on the Amazon product detail page.
- I scoured the reviews; however, as far as I could tell, there are no reviews specific to this product on the product page that tell who the translator is--all refer to other copies of the book rather than ISBN-10 0891903313.
- I scoured the internet via every Google search I could think of to try to find out who did the translation for this copy--no luck there.
- My next course of action was to contact the seller--Amazon. After 30 minutes on chat with a Amazon associate, said associate determined the information was not available and advised me to contact the publisher. I replied that perhaps Amazon should contact the publisher to provide this information, since Amazon is selling the product. The associate agreed and said I would receive a follow-up email with this information within 48 hours. That was on April 30. It is now May 10 and I have not been contacted.
- I did call the publisher and spoke with someone at Amereon--however, they did not know the translator off hand and have not returned my call. My subsequent calls went unanswered.
- After 48 hours had passed since my chat with the Amazon associate, I decided to call Amazon to follow-up. Another associate did his best to find the information via Google--however, he had no more luck than I did. After 30 minutes, he advised me to contact one of the other sellers of the book to find this information. I pushed back because I planned to purchase to the book from Amazon--if you are telling me to ask a seller of the book for this information, aren't you confirming that you should know, since you are the seller of the book that I plan to purchase from? Finally, the conversation ended with him sending me an email and promising follow-up within 48 hours. That was on May 2 and it is now May 10. I have not heard back.
- Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I just ordered the book. I received it yesterday and I am happy to confirm that this is the Katherine Woods translation! The pictures are black and white which I really like. It is really a beautiful book and exactly what I was looking for.
Let the record show that this is a Katherine Woods translation. Amazon, I hope you will update the product detail page...and maybe get back to your customers when you say you will! But no hard feelings :).
on January 27, 2017
Every person should read this account on how to live their life through "The Little Prince" .. i have 3 sons and read it to them for countless years. As is for all of us. They and i and you, have not cone clise to this gift of a Prince. Please read it many times. If not to help others...but to help yourself. The Little Prince has helped me through my most darkest moments here. I still need to understand him better. When you read this. Remember please that Love has no gender. God Bless. Deborah. S.Y.O.T.O.S
