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Background
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- English Title: Asterix
and the Goths
- French Title: Asterix
chez les Goths
- Asterix Book Number:
3
- First Published: 1963
- First Published in English:
1974
- Written by:
Rene Goscinny
- Illustrated by: Albert
Uderzo
- Translated By:
Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
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This third Asterix book starts up right after
the second Asterix and
the Golden Sickle, with Getafix going to the Forest of
Carnutes that had been mentioned in book 2. The Forest of
Carnutes, where the Annual Druidic conference was held is
actually a real place and event. It was written about in Caesar's
commentary on the Gallic Wars. In Book VI he writes:
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"These Druids at a certain
time of the year meet within the borders of the Carnutes,
whose territory is reckoned as the centre of all Gaul,
and sit in a conclave in a consecrated spot"
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What the historical Druids did at the conclave
would be very different to what the Druids get up to in the
book - they have a Magic Potion competition where inventions
include:
- Pouring a few drops of potion on the ground to create
out-of-season flowers instantly
- Throwing powder in the air to make rain
- Powdered soup and a powdered cauldron to go with it
- Potion granting immunity to pain
- ...and of course a potion giving the drinker super-human
strength
In World War Two, France of course were occupied
by Germany so the authors had to be aware sensitivities when
creating the book as it was still fairly recent. The Germans
are depicted clearly as enemies and appear quite feirce and
war-like.
References to World War Two are avoided, with
the Goth's helmets more reminiscent of the WW1 ones. A swastika
does appear in a speech bubble when a Goth is swearing on
Page 23.
The then German cold war is alluded to - the
Visigoths (East) are enemies of the Ostrogoths (West).
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Plot
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Asterix and Obelix are escorting Getafix to the annual
druids' conference in the Forest of Carnutes. Little do
they know that Goths (Esoteric, Atmospheric and Choleric)
are hiding nearby, intending to invade Gaul and Rome with
the help of the Druid of the Year. Their first step is to
kidnap Getafix when he wins the title. Asterix and Obelix
immediately rush to the rescue, but when they cross the
frontier the Goths take them for Romans, the Romans take
them for Goths, and, admist much confusion, the Goths start
fighting each other in what will later be known as the Asterixian
Wars.
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Take
a look Inside
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You can view Images
from Asterix and the Goths here.
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Notable
Characters
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Chief Choleric
- What it means: Quick Tempered
- About : Choleric brings four other Goth's
to the Forest of Carnutes to capture the best Druid so
with the help of his magic they'll be able to invade Rome.
Choleric kidnaps Getafix, and with the Romans looking
for Asterix and Obelix, the only problem Choleric faces
is getting Getafix through customs!
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Valluaddetax
- What it means: Value added tax
- About: Valluaddetax is an old friend
and colleague of Getafix's, hailing from Britain. Like
Getafix, he has some magic herbs and potions of his own
- like the herbs that make you bray or the potion that
makes you immune to pain. When it becomes apparent that
Getafix has been captured, he is willing to go and rescue
him, but Asterix and Obelix insist that they could manage
on their own.
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Metric, The Great Chief of
the Goths
- What it means: The Metric Measuring System
(which as Marius points out had been used for sometime
in France but "was still SLUGGISHLY being adopted
when the Asterix translation first appeared back in 1974,
so my guess is that the English translators used the name
Metric as definitely something coming from the continent"
- About: Metric thought he had it all in
the pot. His men had bought him the Druid Getafix who
could give them superhuman strength. His translator, Rhetoric
told him what he wanted to hear and it seemed like Gaul
and Rome would be his... until Getafix announced that
he was able to speak Gothic the whole time and was not
going to reveal the secret of the potion. He orders Rhetoric
to be sent to his death, but Rhetoric disposes him with
the help of the Magic Potion. An ongoing battle between
the two starts, lasting many generations
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Rhetoric
- What it means: The art
of using words effectively
- About: Rhetoric is a constantly
nervous translator, especially in the presence of the
Great Chief Metric. He interrogates Getafix and learns
that he is not going to use his magic powers for the Goths.
Knowing that Metric would probably kill him if he said
otherwise, he informed Metric that Getafix would use his
powers in a week's time. In that time, he tries to escape
but run's into the Gauls. They give him the Magic Potion,
not only boosting his strength but his confidence, and
becomes the Great Chief instead of Metric... but not for
long
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Look
out for...
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- The first appearance of Cacofonix's distinctive hut
- The Goths singing a version of "The Grand Old Duke
of York
- A way to make rain without using Cacofonix
- The Asterixian Wars
- Asterix and
the Goths Mistakes
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Review
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The Asterix stories continue to get better with each book.
The Goths have funny, original names (General Electric,
Rhetoric, Lyric, Satiric etc.) and the irony that Asterix,
Obelix and Getafix started the German infighting that lasted
for two thousand years is hilarious! The Books where Asterix
and Obelix visit other countries are always good, and this
is no exception!
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