Asterix and the Great Divide [Hardcover]

Albert Uderzo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Asterix

Two rival chieftains have been elected to govern a little village in ancient Gaul and a ditch dug through the village divides it, literally, into a party of the left and a party of the right. But the son and daughter of the two chieftains are in love. Histrionix and the beautiful Melodrama have more sense than their fathers, and call in Asterix, Obelix and the druid Getafix to sort out the political wrangling. What with the intriguing of the sinister traitor Codfix, who wants to marry Melodrama himself, the Gauls' work is cut out for them can they persuade the star-crossed lovers' village to reunite against the threat of Julius Caesar's Roman legionaries? Getafix brews some interesting new magic potions to help

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in French as Le Grand Foss (1980), the full-color graphic novel Asterix and the Great Divide by Albert Uderzo, trans. by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockbridge, returns to the days of the Gauls to document the attempts by the titular hero to unite a fractious town around the marriage of Histrionix and Melodrama, the son and daughter of rival leaders. The series also includes Asterix and the Black Gold (featuring the druid Getafix, the Phoenician merchant Ekonomikrisis and the Roman secret agent Dubbelosix) and Asterix and Son. (May)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Reviewed with Albert Uderzo's Asterix and Son and Asterix and the Black Gold.

Gr. 4-8. The comic-book alternate history adventures of Asterix and his buddy Obelix, begun in France in 1961, has continued through 31 volumes. These books (from 1983, 1981, and 1980, respectively) are new to American publication, though they have been available in Britain. Each story is filled with broad physical humor and puns that work in English as well as in the original French, and virtually no indigenous or ethnic group escapes Uderzo's wit (at one point, the heroes are invited to bed down in a Bethlehem cowshed.). In Asterix and Son, Asterix and Obelix become guardians of a kidnapped baby who takes a potion and develops superhuman strength. In Black Gold, the heroes travel to Mesopotamia in search of more potion. In the Great Divide, competition between two village chieftains gives the Romans an opportunity to conquer. The cartoons are playfully round and brightly colored, and the architectural and martial details go beyond simple stereotypes. Asterix already has lots of fans; here are three new-to-America episodes that will please devotees as well as gather uninitiated readers with their mix of humor, history, and good storytelling. Francisca Goldsmith
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Orion; hardcover edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752847120
• ISBN-13: 978-0752847122
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Asterix and the Great Divide, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Asterix and the Great Divide (The Adventures of Asterix) (Paperback)

The humorous depiction of the adventures of the inhabitants of one small village in Gaul, (modern day France) which defies roman occupation in 50 BC with the superhuman power of a magic potion. Its full of beautiful visuals and excellent pun, especially the play of words in conversation and names of characters. Its gentle satire pokes fun on modern life, art and politics with caricatures of Napoleon, Shakespeare, Zorro and even James Bond.

In Asterix and the Great Divide, a village divided by a ditch as well as their chiefs' opinions, with one side going to the Romans and having a hard time as Romans take them as slaves. The chief of the other side sends his son to the little Gaulish village for help. Codefix, a mean and sly Gaul, advices Romans to attack the Gaulish village. He steals a cauldron of magic potion for them and the fun begins with its strange and unexpected effect on Romans!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat dissapointing, July 29, 2002

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asterix and the Great Divide (Asterix (Orion Paperback)) (Paperback)

First published in French in 1980 as `Le Grand Fosse', this album was first published in English in 1981.

Chief Cleverdix sends his son Histrionix to the village by the sea, to call on the aid of Chief Vitalstatistix, to settle a dispute with his rival , Chief Majestix..
Asterix, Obelix and Getafix are as a result sent to the divided village.
This was the first book written by Uderzo alone, and is not one of the best. Much of the humour is recycled from earlier Astérix books, and the attempts at political satire are weak, unlike the superb political satire of `Asterix and Caesar's Gift' for example. Uderzo would later prove that he could however, write, good Asterix comics, with such gems as `Asterix and the Black Gold' and `Asterix and The Magic Carpet'.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not their best but still good, June 6, 2000

By 

"bijesh" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asterix and the Great Divide (The Adventures of Asterix) (Paperback)

This book , it must be noted, is one of the later asterix adventures and I would have to say it doesn't hold up to the earlier ones penned by Goscinny (This is written and illustrated by Uderzo). Somehow the plot lacks sharpness. But the rest of the stuff is there: the punch lines and the artwork. If you haven't checked out the earlier ones, it may be better to do that first. Its still a valuable addition to the collection though.