Product Description

Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts - for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 18 Chief Vitalstatistix makes a rash bet with his brother-in-law, the infuriating show-off Homeopathix, whom he invites to dine on a stew seasoned with Caesar's laurel wreath. It is up to Aserix and Obelix, of course, to go to Rome and acquire the wreath.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52849 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

About the Author
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. 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.

Customer Reviews

Getting up Caesar's nose
This is the small, compact version of the Asterix 'graphic novel' - it'll fit in a large pocket. Our eponymous hero continues his persecution of the Roman Empire - this time appearing in the Coliseum. If you are a fan, this is up to the normal high standards of graphic humour. If you are new to Asterix, the fantasy and imagery are well worth exploration - one of the charms of the comic genre is the fact that you can revisit it, again and again, and spot things you've missed, rediscovered things you've forgotten. This is artistry of the highest quality.

My favourite of the series
As in 'Asterix and Cleopatra,' it begins with a bet which is trifling but of great symbolic importance. Vitalstatistix, accompanied by his wife and bodyguards -- ie Asterix and Obelix -- visits his boorish, nouveau riche brother-in-law in Paris. Homeopathix and his wife Tapioca -- the Mr and Mrs Dursley of ancient times -- have done very well under the Roman occupation and don't care who knows it. This is all too much for Chief Vitalstatistix, who gets drunk and boasts that he will give Homeopathix a dinner in return ... a stew that no amount of money can buy ... seasoned with Caesar's laurel wreath. Hic!

This is such a wonderful opening, and very funny. It takes a swideswipe at the collaborateurs of WWII without losing touch with the good-naturedness of the series, and it perfectly encapsulates what the Asterix books are really about (the best of them, anyway) -- honour, pride and resilience in the face of imperialism.

Nor does the rest of the book disappoint, as it takes us into the very heart of imperial Rome. PG Wodehouse once said that the important thing is to work out what your big scenes are, and here there are big scenes applenty. I love the slave market with its snooty slaves, and our heroes' arrival at the house of the amiable Tiberius and his family, and their efforts to be resold. Then there's the trial scene which is a lovely parody of Roman oratory. And finally there's the last minute appearance by the great man himself -- that wolf, son of the Roman she-wolf -- who under his new wreath of parsley can't help wondering why he feels like a piece of fish.

It's a classic!

Top ten adventure
A rather thin idea for a story leads to entertaining capers in the streets and taverns of Rome. Enjoyable little adventure.