Farshore celebrates 80th anniversary of The Little Prince with new range
Farshore will publish flagship gift titles of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry this autumn to mark the 80th anniversary of the classic children’s book, backed by a major PR and marketing campaign.
This will include re-issuing of the existing two editions with new livery and new formats as well as well as a new range of four titles inspired by the classic. The announcement comes on International Little Prince Day (29th June).
The new books will celebrate the original translation of Saint-Exupéry’s work by Katherine Woods, who died in 1968. Woods produced the original English translation of The Little Prince in 1943 and, although later followed by several other English translations, “it is Woods’ classic translation that is treasured by fans and is often considered to be the definitive English translation", Farshore said.
Kicking off the publishing programmed on 31st August 2023, Farshore will publish a slipcased edition, The Little Prince Collector’s Edition, including the classic English translation by Woods and original colour illustrations. This edition will feature bonus non-fiction content exploring themes such as the history of the original, the real-life plane crash that inspired the story and the life of the author. Farshore will also publish a new gift, cloth-bound edition for adults of the classic book.
The Little Prince: Wisdom from Beyond the Stars, a new hardback illustrated book will be published of quotes from the children’s classic.
There will also be new adaptation for picture book readers by award-winning poet Louise Greig, inspired by Woods’ original translation. The paperback edition will be published later in the autumn with Greig’s writing accompanied by new artwork from Sarah Massini, the illustrator of The Velveteen Rabbit (Nosy Crow). A hardback pop-up edition will be published in autumn 2024.
Existing editions of The Little Prince will also be reissued in both hardback and paperback formats with striking, refreshed covers.
The publishing activity for the year-long celebration of the 80th anniversary of The Little Prince will all be supported by a major PR and marketing campaign.
“Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s The Little Prince is one of the most loved books of all time, and the most translated book after the Bible,” Farshore said. “Since its publication in the UK in 1944, it has become a true classic for adults and children the world over, known for its gentle and poignant exploration of friendship, love, loneliness and what makes us human.”
Melissa Fairley, publishing director at Farshore, said: "These new editions, published for the 80th anniversary, also celebrate the oiginal translation of Saint‑Exupéry’s work by Woods. Her poetic re-creation of the work is beloved among fans for capturing the heart of Saint-Exupéry’s writing, and the spirit of the time in which the book was created."
