Asterix & Son

When someone leaves a little boy in a basket right outside Asterix’s hut, it’s two Gauls and a baby in the days of the Roman Empire! Though Asterix and Obelix have more experience in whopping legionnaires than in diapering infants, they do their best. Also new to child care is the sneaky Prefect of Gaul, Crismus Cactus, who’s masquerading as a nursemaid. Why are the Romans trying to get the baby? And, what plot is the treacherous Brutus hatching against Caesar? Asterix must find out. Even though the Gaulish will burn down before the truth comes to light, all ends well with Caesar promising to rebuild it.and give a grand banquet on board Cleopatra’s galley!

Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Argentina, before eventually moving to Paris in 1951. He died in 1977. Albert Uderzo was born in 1927 in a small village in Marne, France. He met Rene Goscinny in 1951 and on 29 October 1959 their most famous creation, Asterix, made his first appearance on page 20 of PILOTE. ASTERIX THE GAUL their first album, was published in 1961 and there have now been 33 Asterix albums. Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Argentina, before eventually moving to Paris in 1951. He died in 1977.

The Asterix books represent the very summit of our achievement as a literary race. In Asterix one finds all of human life. The fact that the books were written originally in French is no matter. I have read them all in many languages and, like all great literature, they are best in English. Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, Asterix’s translators since the very beginning, have made great books into eternal flames.–THE TIMES A cartoon drawn with such supreme artistry, and a text layered with such glorious wordplay, satire and historical and political allusion that no reader should ever feel like they’ve outgrown it.–TIME OUT #0521