In this book little known Kessel, found the themes dear to the writer: the passion of friendship, learning maturity. Aviation of the big time is still there, as madness somehow. The great Kessel but he is the "small", "bad" Kessel? No, Kessel was, is and will remain a great French writers. And read it plunges us into a superb French and a world where talent and freedom outweighs the navel and lucre. Read Kessel lifts us, it is not so common nowadays.