On July 31, 1944, the most famous writer-aviator disappeared, without a trace, aboard a plane over the Mediterranean. The mysterious death of the Aéropostale pioneer and author of The Little Prince – the best-selling book in the world after the Bible – nourished, for decades, a St-Exuperian legend that has become international.
Read also on Tribune de Lyon: Soon in theaters. A film about Saint-Exupéry with Louis Garrel in the role of the Lyon hero
To mark the 80th anniversary of his death, several commemorations will take place this weekend in Lyon, his hometown. Born on June 29, 1900, at 8 rue de la Peyrat (current rue St-Exupéry, in the 2nd arrondissement), Antoine de St-Exupéry spent his younger years near Place Bellecour, before enjoying, every summer, of the family castle and its park located in St-Maurice-de-Rémens in Ain.
To pay tribute to the writer-pilot and his local roots, a ceremony will be organized on Friday June 28 at 1 p.m. at the foot of the statue dedicated to him, Place Bellecour. In addition to his descendants, including his great-nephew Olivier d’Agay, and his fans, 350 children will parade on rue Victor Hugo and perform slam readings of the Little Prince. On June 29 at 9:30 a.m., at the same location, an official military ceremony will take place in the presence of representatives of the Air Force and veterans.
