Asterix and the Soothsayer [Paperback]

Rene Goscinny (Author), Albert Uderzo (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Asterix

It was a dark and stormy night, and a sinister visitor has arrived in the little Gaulish village where Asterix lives. Prolix claims he's a soothsayer, and the townsfolk believe every word he says. Only Asterix knows better. How can he make all his friends see the truth?

Editorial Reviews

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; Export/Airport ed edition (April 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752866427
• ISBN-13: 978-0752866420
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Humorous > Asterix

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really well-done stories and illustrations!, February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Asterix and the Soothsayer (Asterix (Darguard)) (Paperback)

This book was the first one I ever bought in the Asterix series, and it's still one of my favorites. Everyone in the village wants to believe the rosy future predicted for them by the soothsayer, with only Asterix expressing any skepticism. I really love the artwork in this series, as well as the attempt at giving the reader a feel for the historical era --- even though it's as historically accurate of ancient times as the Flintstones is of the caveman era! Still, a fun-to-read set of books!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty of Gullibility, September 28, 2005

By 

Bu-Chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

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

In this Asterix adventure, a mysterious, skin-clad man arrives at the village claiming to be a soothsayer. Playing to the villagers' desires and jealousies, the soothsayer soon causes chaos and the machinations of Asterix, Getafix the Druid and Obelix.

Maintaining the usual high standards of art and dialogue in this story, you will be very well entertained and find yourself giggling quite happily.

A great adventure, a great story and a great lesson on gullible people and the insecurities that they may have. I loved this one!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clairvoyant or Conman?, June 30, 2002

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asterix and the Soothsayer (Asterix (Darguard)) (Paperback)

A traveller, claming to be a soothsayer, takes refuge in the village. It isn't long, before the entire village is in his thrall, desperate to believe the wonderful things he has foretold.
Only Asterix sees him for what he really is. A fraud, who lives off peoples credulity.
Even Obelix is taken in by his sweet talk, and falls in love with Geriatrixs' rather gorgeous wife.
The false soothsayer falls into the hands of the Romans and is promised his freedom if he can get the Gauls to leave the village.

He actually manages to do this, and only Asterix and a reluctant Obelix stay. Luckily the Druid Getafix gets back from his Conference in the Forest of the Carnutes, in the nick of time.
Asterix and Getafix put their brains together to deal with the Soothsayer and the Romans.

Some really witty jokes in this one, where we get to find out about all the Gaullish gods, as well as the Roman policy at the time to arrest and deport all Gaullish soothsayers.