Jean Mermoz, pilote de ligne

As early as 1933, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote his first articles about Jean Mermoz, the man and his exploits. Mermoz’s sudden disappearance in 1936 naturally prompted several tributes from Saint-Exupéry, in which he retold his story and portrayed a man of commitment, courage and great nobility. Although Saint-Exupéry did not share Mermoz’s political views or his involvement with the Croix-de-Feu, he admired him greatly. A year after Mermoz’s disappearance, it was Saint-Exupéry who delivered the funeral oration, “l’Adieu à Mermoz,” before all his companions from the Aéropostale. He would later rework some of these articles for inclusion in Terre des hommes, published in 1939.

The four most significant of these tributes are gathered here: the articles of 7 August 1935, 10 and 16 December 1936, and 22 January 1937.

From the library of Pierre Puech (Paris, Alde, II, 2010, no. 370).