Flight to Arras

Flight to Arras by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a memoir written in 1942 that recounts the author’s experiences as a reconnaissance pilot in the French Air Force during the Battle of France in 1940. The book centers on a single, perilous mission over the town of Arras at a time when the French resistance was collapsing under the German invasion. Saint-Exupéry vividly describes the loss of many reconnaissance crews in his unit, likening it to glassfuls of water thrown onto a forest fire. The narrative blends the detailed account of the dangerous flight with deep philosophical reflections on war, fate, the human soul, patriotism, and the meaning of life. Throughout the mission, Saint-Exupéry recalls childhood memories, contemplates the divine, and faces the forces of destiny alongside his comrades. Though the mission itself is harrowing, the memoir has a poignant and introspective tone, highlighting both the brutality of war and the resilience of the human spirit.