Citadel

«You write, you address people, you are like equipping a ship, — wrote Saint-Exupéry in «Citadel». — Few of the ships will reach the harbor. Most get lost at sea. Not many significant words continue to swim down the river of history».

«Citadel» — the greatest creation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the pinnacle of his artistic philosophy. This powerful, indestructible literary fortress was built by the writer over many years with maximum dedication and endless love.
Since «Citadel» was not completed (Saint-Exupéry always repeated that he would never finish it), and the book itself turned out to be too voluminous and complex to read, the French writer Michel Kenel, at the request of the heirs’ family, made an attempt to edit it, making some reductions and removing repetitions, thereby highlighting all the artistic merits more vividly. The new version was more accessible and popular, helping to bring readers closer to this unmatched masterpiece of the great writer-architect, who builds his own citadel in the heart of each person.
It is published in Russian in a brilliant translation by Marianna Kozhevnikova.

«Citadel» is a work flesh of flesh of the author, his treasure. It is that melody, that somber and solemn hymn, which arose not due to any meeting, but continually resonated in his soul, was him, like breath, the beating of the heart, the pulse of blood.

«Citadel», although it is built like a story, breaks down into many stories not connected to each other, which excite not curiosity, not interest, but inspire admiration for their beauty and significance.