Asterix and the Actress [Paperback]

Albert Uderzo (Author), Rene Goscinny (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Asterix (Orion Paperback)

Set in 50 B.C., these hysterical historical tales follow the adventures of Asterix and his pals in the days of the Roman Empire. Normally, he’s concerned about protecting his town from the legionnaires (with the help of a magic potion), but here something else is on his mind: his surprise birthday party! Meanwhile, two old friends are about to turn up again...and they’re up to something interesting. “Great for leading high-school students into discussion of history and literary devices.”—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. Asterix, the hero of more than 30 comic stories set in 50 B.C. Gaul, is back here in his first new graphic novel adventure in five years. Uderzo's customary wit, humane insights, and silly physical antics allow readers new to the series to join the fun as Asterix and the oversized Obelix celebrate their mutual birthday, get tricked by Pompey's pretend Panacea, and rescue their fathers from a Roman prison. Translated from the French with a liberal combination of Latin puns and contemporary social riffs--including a reference to hitching a ride in an HGV (Heavy Gaulish Vehicle)--the story has cross-generational appeal. The illustrations are, as expected, ridiculous cartoons; this includes the one-panel representation of an African sailor, as well as the images of the heroes, their families, and the enemy Romans. In addition to being fun for middle-readers, this will be great for leading high-school students into discussion of history and literary devices. Francisca Goldsmith
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Orion (August 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752846582
• ISBN-13: 978-0752846583
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Humorous > Asterix

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Asterix has gone to the dogs, January 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Asterix and the Actress (Hardcover)

Uderzo should really just call it a day and retire. The vast majority of Asterix books are pure genius, but this latest offering lets him down badly. The illustrations, of course, are delightful, although the frames look strangely empty, but there is more plot in a couple of pages of "Asterix and the Banquet" than in this entire volume.
As Brutus was dispatched at the end of "Asterix and Son" to Upper Germania or somewhere, Pompey is cast as the villain, although he only appears about twice. However, the idea of employing such an elaborate device as to hire an impersonator (or impersonatrix, I beg her pardon) just to recover a mere sword and helmet is frankly ridiculous. I think Uderzo just extracted a load of enjoyment from drawing a book's worth of well-favoured women such as Panacea, and thought he could get away with publishing the result as an Asterix book. The dialogue, too, doen't come close to the sublime heights of the earlier adventures, with many of the puns, for example those concerning fish, being recycled from previous books, and the new ones being of the feeble standard of "HGV - Heavy Gaulish Vehicle".
"Asterix and Obelix All At Sea", the preceding offering, was bad enough, but if this kind of downward trend is the future of Asterix, I must say I hope the Romans take over the village as soon as possible and put an end to the whole thing before it gets any worse.

We are not amused.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, September 30, 2001

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asterix and the Actress (Hardcover)

This Asterix comic is an excellent story, bringing together many familiar characters from previous stories. The storyline is very funny, from trying to get Asterix and Obelix married off (not to each other), to the nagging wives, to the references to fish, to the appearances of old favourites like Tragicomix and Tremensdelirious.

This particular version is trnaslated in the original style - with druid being named Getafix. In my humble opinion, the original translation style is the better. A highly recommend this to anyone who liked the original Asterix comics.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Asterix and the Actress, February 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Asterix and the Actress (Paperback)

This book was written by the illustrator of the Asterix books and not the original author (who died).

He draws beautifully but his writing skills are mediocre.