〈簡　介〉

《小王子》（Le Petit Prince / The Little Prince），是法國作家安托萬．德．聖修伯里（Antoine de Saint-Exupéry）所創作的小說，於1943年在美國以英語和法語出版。曾當選為20世紀法國最佳圖書，是世界最暢銷的圖書之一。

第二次世界大戰法國淪陷，聖修伯里在流亡美國時完成了本書的手稿。他大半的作品都是當時在感情劇變和健康惡化的狀況下寫出的，包括了此一有關孤獨、友情與愛的感人小故事。自小說出版以來，《小王子》被廣泛改編為廣播劇、舞台劇、電影、電視劇、芭蕾舞劇和音樂劇等各種形式。

《小王子》的主人公是來自外星球的小王子。書中以一位飛行員作為故事敘述者，講述了小王子從自己星球出發前往地球的過程中的種種經歷。作者以小王子孩童式的眼光，透視出成人的空虛、盲目，愚妄和教條；以淺顯天真的語言寫出了人類的孤獨、寂寞與虛無；同時也表達出作者對金錢物質的批判，以及對真善美的謳歌。小王子天真無邪的視角穿透了淺薄的生活表象，深入發掘出靈魂深處最淳樸的生命之真。故事全篇充斥著對「成人邏輯」的否定，使人深切反思精神層面的漸次淪喪與無奈。

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〈Introduction〉

"The Little Prince" (Le Petit Prince), a novel by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, was first published in 1943 in the United States in both English and French. It was voted the best French book of the 20th century and is one of the best-selling books worldwide.

During the occupation of France in World War II, Saint-Exupéry wrote the manuscript while exiled in the USA. Much of his work, including this touching story about loneliness, friendship, and love, was written amidst emotional turmoil and declining health. Since its publication, "The Little Prince" has been widely adapted into various formats such as radio plays, stage plays, films, TV dramas, ballets, and musicals.

The protagonist of "The Little Prince" is a young prince from another planet. The story is narrated by a pilot, who recounts the prince's journey from his own planet to Earth and his various encounters. Through the child-like perspective of the Little Prince, the author exposes the vacuity, blindness, folly, and dogmatism of adults; using simple, innocent language to depict human loneliness, solitude, and emptiness, while also critiquing materialism and celebrating truth, goodness, and beauty. The prince's naive viewpoint penetrates the superficial aspects of life, exploring the deepest truths of the soul. The story is filled with a rejection of "adult logic," prompting profound reflection on the gradual loss of spiritual depth and the accompanying sense of helplessness.