Asterix in Britain

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View books by René Goscinny.

A rollicking adventure through a strange land - Rated
Not the best written story, it's not very inventive and feels quite loose, but is still very satirical, with plenty of references to our very different customs. Our Gallic heroes seem to get quite cross after a while with their cousins from across the water, for being so...well, English! A pacy adventure through Ancient Britain, complete with warm beer and strange customs. Very popular here, for obvious reasons, but I'm not sure if this is even in my top ten.

Jolly good Asterix adventure, what. - Rated
'Asterix in Britain' is the 8th of 31 adventures published between 1961and 2001; This adventure is from 1966. This is a classic adventure set in Britain. Britain has been conquered by the Romans, except for one village in Cantium (Kent). Asterix and Obelix travel to Britain to help the village with a barrel of magic potion. The jokes come thick and fast. The Britons serve their Boar boiled, served with Mint sauce and drink warm beer (To the disgust of our heroes). Britain is lovingly reproduced: Everything stopping at 5.00 for a nice cup of hot water (with a spot of milk). The enthusiastic Gardner who will not have people walking on his grass; The Roman army in beer drinking exercises. Obelix impacting a Rugby match; The hilarious efforts of Asterix and Obelix to find each other in the Tower of London. I consider this adventure in the top 10. This new re-inked and re-coloured edition breathes fresh life into this excellent story.

Amusing, educational and intelligent. - Rated
I had never been much of a fan of Asterix (but for some reason liked Tintin) until I was writing a supposedly much more serious book on London's archaeology earlier this year, and decided to look at how different authors (both academic and popular) had imagined Roman London in the past. When I read Asterix in Britain I was astonished not only by how good the story and artwork was, but at the remarkable coincidences between Goscinny and Uderzo's depiction of Londinium and what we have actually excavated in recent years - including streets, buildings and details like timber doors just like the one knocked down by Obelix on p. 33. The similarities were almost too good to be true, so I asked for permission to use some of the images in the archaeology book called 'Heart of the City'. The publishers kindly agreed and as a result Asterix drawings can now be directly compared to real Roman buildings and other finds discovered in London in the 1990s. What greater recommendation can it have then one from the unlikely source of a London archaeologist. Mind you we still haven't found evidence for double-decker chariots. Up Britannia!

excellent read, extreamly funny,YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK - Rated
You wont stop laughing for ages.Fun for kids and adults.You'd be an idiot no to buy this classic.

One of the most enjoyable of the lot. - Rated
The brilliant Asterix series hits one of its high points here. Asterix in Britain provides a golden opportunity for Goscinny and Uderzo to lampoon Britishness and the British (which the French are always eager to attempt!), an opportunity that they seize with both hands.

The pages are packed with a vast array of (affectionate) British stereotypes, with constant themes being the language ("oh, I say, rather, old fruit, what?") and the famous "stiff upper lip" that my compatriots are supposed to exhibit. Obelix, of course, would rather they spent a little more time on cooking boar properly ("boiled in mint sauce, poor things")!

As with the whole Asterix series (the books written by Goscinny, in any case), the action comes at a furious pace, and the jokes are, as ever, a delight. How Bell and Hockridge (the English translators) do it is beyond me. And it's even educational - thanks to the frequent Latin tags (yes, it is funnier if you learn what they say and where they come from).

As with most Asterix books, this one can be read on several levels. Certainly, when I reread an Asterix book, I almost always find that I understand some reference or allusion for the first time (have a look at shape of the building behind the garden of the Briton who gets involved in the chariot chase!).

Most Asterix books have one particularly memorable scene - in this case, it's the rugby match (Obelix, naturally, has now found a reason to like Britain). All sorts of things going on (including in the background, a sure sign of a good cartoon), loads of people involved, mostly at cross-purposes, fights - you name it, really. Only three points for a try in those days, I notice...

If you've never read an Asterix book, you've missed a great deal. Try this one (especially if you're British yourself) and you'll see what I mean.