在安德烈·吉德尔将其改编成现代英文剧本之前，《小王子》是一部怎样的文学作品，它为后来的版本增添了哪些新的层次？

《小王子》，这部法国作家安托万·德·圣埃克苏佩里创作的经典童话，自1953年首次出版以来，就以其独特而深刻的哲学寓意和对人类情感的细腻描绘赢得了全球读者的喜爱。从最初的法文原版到随后的翻译和改编，包括安德烈·吉达（André Gide）等知名作家的参与，这个故事在各个阶段都经历了变化与发展，逐渐成为一部跨越年龄、文化和语言边界的小说。

讲述一个来自遥远星球的小王子，他来到地球上，与他相遇的人物之间建立的情感联系，以及这些关系所带来的启示，是本书最核心的部分。其中，“有太阳的小行星上没有影子”，“我想你知道，没有人愿意听别人谈论他们梦想”这样的著名语录，不仅是对孩子们温柔而深刻的心灵触动，也是对成人世界中许多复杂问题的一种隐喻解释。

在早期版本中，小王子的冒险和他的朋友们——三位探险家、一个商人、一位国王、大象以及其他一些角色—are all portrayed through the voice of the pilot, who is recounting his story to a grown man in prison. The narrative style allows for a level of intimacy and emotional depth that would be difficult to achieve in other formats. As the story progresses, we see how each character's interactions with the little prince shape his understanding of human nature and society.

The themes explored in this early version include love, friendship, greed, vanity, and loneliness. These are timeless issues that resonate with readers across generations and cultures. The illustrations by Saint-Exupéry himself add visual depth to these abstract concepts making them more relatable.

In 1943 when first published in French as Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), it was not an instant success but gained popularity gradually over time due to its unique approach towards storytelling. When translated into English by Katherine Woods in 1944 under title "The Little Prince", it started gaining recognition globally.

As we move forward from this original publication date up until now—more than seven decades later—the book has undergone several adaptations including translations into numerous languages such as German (Der Kleine Prinz) Spanish (El Principito), Chinese () etc., which made it accessible to people worldwide regardless their native tongue or cultural background.

It was then that André Gide came on board with his own adaptation titled "Le Petit Prince" adapted for stage performance which further amplified its reach beyond written word into live performances where actors brought characters alive on stage adding another dimension to storytelling experience.

This transformation from a simple novel about childhood adventures into a global phenomenon speaks volumes about its lasting impact on human consciousness—a testament not just to Saint-Exupéry's masterful storytelling but also our universal quest for meaning within ourselves & among others around us whether they be friends or strangers alike; young or old; rich or poor; powerful or weak

Thus while exploring what exactly happened before Andrey Gide’s modern English adaptation took place will give us insight into why certain aspects were retained while some new elements were added thus leading us down an interesting journey through time witnessing how one small yet powerful piece of literature evolved over years shaping hearts minds & perspectives across continents