A Storybook Adventure: Lyon and the Little Prince

By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France

Just a few days before leaving for the holidays, I finally set up a day to trace the footsteps of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of the renowned The Little Prince.

Recalling the first time I researched Lyon, the city where I would be living for my study abroad program, my heart leaped as I discovered that it was the hometown of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Immediately, I was embraced by a soft and familiar comfort as I built a connection to my childhood memories of reading The Little Prince. As it was one of my mother’s favorite books, I had already known the story by heart, having read it over and over until it became a small part of me. My mother always made references to how the little boy saw the world in such different ways. Though small in stature, his horizons stretch infinitely wide. He stares right into the simple truths behind the tangled complexities we tend to hide ourselves under.

The day when I finally embarked on my journey was surprisingly bright, embracing my body with a soft glow and warmth. As I followed the map on my phone, winding through a maze of interlaced narrow streets, I discovered artisan shops and small vintage stores that quietly awaited someone to wander inside. The radiating sun illuminated the white façade of the Gothic and Renaissance-styled buildings, the whiteness flashing across my eyes as I looked around, so I had to stop and blink twice before carrying on.

Then, I arrived at the famous statue. As I looked around, I was astonished to find it quietly standing just on the other side of the square that I so often passed. Can you imagine how much we miss seeing solely from our own viewpoints? And there I was, looking at the pilot and the little boy, who both gazed toward the faraway, pensively, searching and waiting.

As I never imagined visiting the birthplace of one of my favorite authors, that moment seemed to connect me with my younger self as well. Here I am, so close to the person whom I admired so much, whose footsteps on the sandy ground resounded through time. I couldn’t help but wonder how the time Saint-Exupéry spent in Lyon contributed to his literary works, specifically The Little Prince? Other than the gift shop souvenirs and frescos that make this little boy a symbol of the city, what else is left of his legacy?

Personally, from seeing the ancient remains that are so well-preserved in Lyon and watching the two rivers flowing along their courses, I had a strong sensation that the nature around this city carries memories. The people and stories that once lived there never really leave; they linger in invisible forms, perhaps as wind or rain, building the ambiance of this city and reminding each and every passerby of its lineage.

The visit to the statue was a beautiful way to round off my stay in Lyon. By seeing the pilot and the little boy, I was reminded to continue with childlike curiosity and an unyielding commitment to sincerity and kindness. As the fox whispers, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”