Asterix the Gladiator (Bk. 4) [Paperback]

Rene Goscinny (Author), Albert Uderzo (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Asterix

Oh no! The Romans have captured Cacofonix as a gift for Caesar—and the Emperor plans to throw him to the lions. There’s only one way for Asterix and Obelix to rescue their bard: they have to become gladiators themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Orion; Revised edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752866117
• ISBN-13: 978-0752866116
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Humorous > Asterix

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Shinin' Stars for "Asterix the Gladiator", October 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Asterix the Gladiator (Asteric) (Paperback)

This is the first Asterix book I have read. The names of the characters are a little weird, but it's still an extremely good book!

Odious Asperagus, the Roman Prefect of Gaul, wants to give Julius Caesar a present. So he kidnaps Cacofonix, the Gaulish bard, to give to Caesar as a present! (Cacofonix is a really bad singer, too!) So, Asterix and Obleix go to rescue Cacofonix from the Romans.

This book is really exciting, interesting, and funny. The pictures in this book are great. My favorite parts are when Obleix says his favorite saying, "These Romans are crazy!" Whenever Obleix smells wild boar, he just dashes for it! (It's his favorite food.)

Me and my Dad are reading it together, even though I finished the whole book already! I think this book is just as super for kids as it is for grown-ups!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Asterix to the rescue!, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Asterix the Gladiator (Paperback)

Julius Ceasar has conquered Gaul, almost all of it....except that little village of indominatable Gauls that still holds out. Aided by the magic potion of Druid Getafix that confer's superhuman strength, Asterix and Obelix confound Ceasar's plans in bring them under Pax Romana. In Asterix the Gladiator, the village bard Cacofonix (arguably the worst singer in the world) is kidnapped and scheduled to be thrown to the lions in Rome and the only way Asterix and Obleix can rescue him is by becoming gladiators themselves... This is one of the best in the series. The whole crazy cast of them is there...Vitalstatistix, everyone's favorite chief, Fulliautomatix the blacksmith, Unhygenix the fishmonger....and dont miss Cacofonix's hilarious performance in the arena when he decides to serenade the citizens of Rome.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, great illustrations, December 8, 2003

By 

Thomas Wikman "Texas Swede" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Asterix the Gladiator (Asteric) (Paperback)

As a child, I read all of the "classic" Asterix books in Swedish. As an adult living in the U.S., I am reading them again to my children, but this time in English. This is an old classic, and it is very entertaining.

Asterix and Obelix live in small village in Gaul that Julius Caesar never succeeded to subdue. In this story, the village bard (whose musical talents are beyond frightening), is kidnapped, and sent to Rome as a gift to Julius Caesar. Even though the villagers rather not hear his voice again, they set out to rescue him. However, before he is home safe and sound, he will have his chance to perform (torture more accurately) for Julius Caesar and the citizens of Rome.

I find that children the age 5-13 usually really enjoy these books, not just mine. These comic books are a great way to teach children ancient history. Naturally, the adult needs to help with the differentiation between fiction and history. From these books, my kids have learned about the Roman Empire, the ancient Greeks, the Vikings, the Goths, the Phoenicians, ancient Gaul, ancient Egypt, and the ancient Mediterranean world in general.