Asterix and Son

by Rene Goscinny, Albert Uderzo, Rene Goscinny (Created by), Derek Hockbridge (Translator), Anthea Bell (Translator), Albert Underzo (Illustrator)

Overview

When someone leaves a little boy in a basket outside Asterix and Obelix’s hut, it’s two Gauls and a baby! Though Asterix and Obelix have more experience whopping legionnaires than diapering infants, they do their best. Also new to childcare: the sneaky Prefect of Gaul, Crismus Cactus, who’s masquerading as a nursemaid. Why do the Romans want this baby? And, what plot is the treacherous Brutus hatching against Caesar? Asterix must find out.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780752847757
Publisher:	Orion
Publication date:	11/28/2001
Series:	Asterix Series
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.25(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	11 - 14 Years

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 35 Asterix albums.

Editorial Reviews

The first album of Asterix comics appeared in 1961 and soon became a raging bestseller in France, topping even Tintin. Originally created by the team of R. Goscinny and Uderzo, it has been continued for the past several decades since Goscinny's death by his partner. Asterix is imbued with very French sensibilities, and has taken its time catching on in the United States, but the recent reissue of several numbers should remedy this situation. Asterix, of course, is a Celt. A very short Celt. His buddy Obelix is a huge Celt (transporting menhirs by sheer back-strength is his occupation, after all). Together they continually harass the entire Roman Empire in the year 50 B.C. Their garbled Latin is only one of the amusements involved. In this particular number, the two bachelor heroes adopt an abandoned baby who turns out to be the offspring of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Latin classes—and lovers of the absurd—should eat it up. 2001 (orig. 1983), Sterling,
— Kathleen Karr

Children's Literature

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

From the Publisher