The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s timeless masterpiece, has reached a historic milestone by becoming the world’s most translated book of fiction, with 600 translations to date!
On June 25, 2024, as part of the project “The Little Prince at the Bedside of the World’s Languages”, the 600th translation of this masterpiece was presented to the National Library of Panama, in Dulegaya, the language of the Indigenous Guna people of Northeastern Panama and Colombia. This event reinforces the role of the Little Prince as a universal work that unites peoples and contributes to the preservation of endangered languages.
Since its first publication in 1943 in New York, this philosophical tale, illustrated by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, has touched readers of all generations and cultures, offering a universal message of love, kindness, and humanity.
Today, with many languages on the brink of extinction, The Little Prince uniquely preserves languages and transmits cultures. Thanks to the passion of translators, this work has been translated into rare languages and endangered dialects, thus contributing to the preservation of the world’s linguistic heritage.
The 600th translation confirms the cultural and social impact of the Little Prince, which transcends borders and becomes a link between peoples. This story is more than a story: it is a celebration of cultural diversity. 1,500 copies of this Dulegaya edition, entitled Sagla Massi Bibbi, were printed in the spring of 2024 by the Panamanian publishing house El Hombre de la Mancha. They will be distributed in schools and libraries in the Guna Yala region as of 2025.
The book cover highlights the textile art of the Mola, a reflection of the identity and expression of Guna women. The book was officially presented in the presence of the Panamanian Minister of Culture, the President and Director of the Alliance Française de Panama, and the Ambassador of France to Panama.
“With this 600th translation, The Little Prince reaffirms its status as a universal work, reaching an ever-wider and more diverse audience. Beyond borders and cultures, this tale symbolizes the beauty of meeting and dialogue between men.”
Olivier d’Agay, president of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation.
This translation project, which continues beyond all expectations, demonstrates that The Little Prince is much more than a book: it is a bridge between generations and cultures and a testimony to the power of words and imagination. The Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation is committed to continuing this work by supporting translation and book dissemination projects in regions where mother tongues are threatened.
