Welcome to the opening discussion of this past week’s thought-provoking salon on The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Though often labeled a children’s book, The Little Prince, translated into over 500 languages and dialects, second only to the Bible, sparked a wide-ranging discussion that revealed its deeper, more political dimensions.

In our discussion, Gaslit Nation listeners drew connections between the book’s themes and the current tragedy and disinformation war on Gaza, while others reflected on the absurdity of adulthood depicted in the story. Our conversation touched on the divine feminine, the corrupting influence of institutional power, especially within the Catholic Church, and the existential weight behind Saint-Exupéry’s deceptively simple prose.

We began by exploring the historical context in which the book was written: a time of fractured resistance to fascism, eerily reminiscent of our own era. Just as the French Resistance struggled with internal divisions and the desperate need for leadership, so too does America today, caught between rising authoritarianism and a detached political establishment.

Most amazingly, this conversation took place on July 31st: the 81st anniversary of Saint-Exupéry’s death during a reconnaissance mission off the coast of Marseille. His little plane crashed into the sea, just two months before the liberation of Paris.

UPCOMING BOOK CLUB EVENTS: 

• August – The Lives of Others and I’m Still Here Two films where art challenges dictatorship—from East Germany to Brazil.  Book club: August 25 4pm ET 

• September – Harriet, the Moses of Her People by Sarah Hopkins Bradford Harriet Tubman’s story, in her own words based on interviews with The General herself. Book club: September 29 4pm ET

• October – Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky + Total Resistance by H. Von Dach Poetry and guerrilla strategy: tools for survival and defiance. Book club: October 27 4pm ET 

• November – Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Indigenous wisdom and science for reconnection and gratitude. Book club: November 24 4pm ET

• December – The Forest Song by Lesya Ukrainka An eco-feminist Ukrainian play that sings of love, rebellion, and resilience. Book club: January 29

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