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Background
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- English Title: Asterix
in Spain
- French Title: Asterix
en Hispanie
- Asterix Book Number:
14
- First Published: 1969
- First Published in English:
1971
- Written by:
Rene Goscinny
- Illustrated by: Albert
Uderzo
- Translated By:
Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
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Asterix in Spain is given a precise date in
which the story takes places - March 17th, 45 BC. This was
when Julius Caesar defeated the last forces of Pompey's forces
in the Battle of Munda. Asterix in Spain follows chronologically
from Asterix the Legionary and Caesar's victory in Africa.
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Asterix
in Spain
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"The brave Iberians are holding out
against Julius Caesar, like Asterix and his friends. So when
Chief Huevos Y Bacon's son is taken hostage, who better to
rescue him than the Gauls? Taking him home to Hispania, now
Spain they tangle with the tourist industry and flamenco,
and a face a wild aurochs in the arena - or bullring. And
can it be true? Cacofonix finds a fan in little Pepe!"
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Take
a look Inside
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You can view Images
from Asterix in Spain here.
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Notable
Characters
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Chief Huevos Y Bacon
- What it means: Eggs and bacon
- About: The proud Iberian chief of a village
near Munda, who has the nerve to hold out from Julius Caesar
and his troops. His confident exterior is exposed when Caesar
takes his son Pepe hostage and is genuinely sadened.
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Pepe
- What it means: Short for Pericles, a Greek
general. Santiago informs me: "in
Spanish-speaking countries (and specially Spain itself)
Pepe is often a nickname for José (Not a short form,
just a completely different sounding nickname; another example
of this would be "Paco" for "Francisco").Maybe
Goscinny's use of Pepe comes from the fact that it does
sound Spanish and it is well-known rather than the Pericles
comparison, but who knows... That man was really smart with
the puns after all."
- About: Pepe is proud of his heriage, and
reminds everyone he meets of that fact. He confronts Julius
Caesar with a sling shot, telling him "You shall
not pass!" He is taken hostage and winds up in
the care of the Gaulish vilage where he makes a friend of
Dogmatix and actually ENJOYS Cacofonix's singing!
When he doesn't get his way he holds his breath, making
him a tough customer for the Gauls to deal. He is helped
home by Asterix and Obelix.
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Spurius Brontosaurus
- What it means: Spurious (not genuine, false)
Brontosaurus (large dinosaur)
- About: Spurius Brontosaurus
was in charge of bringing Pepe safely to a Roman camp. On
his return to Spain he discovers with horror that Pepe has
returned too with some Gaulish friends! He tries unsuccessfully
to regain Pepe, taking the disguise of a Iberian Nomad Oloroso
el Fiasco (Oloroso - smelly, fiasco - total disaster).
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Look
out for...
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- Caesar resting on his laurels
- Unhygenix's first appearance
- ... along with the first appearance of the village fish
fight!
- The first time Vitalstatistix falls off his shield
- The origins of stonehenge
- Don Quixote
- The Asterix
in Spain Mistakes
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Review
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The gags involving Asterix's village at the start is the
best part of the book. For the first time the character
of Unhygenix is introduced and with him the famous village
fishfight. The running gag with the fish is hillarious.
It is almost a shame when the story leaves the village and
sees Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix and Pepe leave for Spain.
Spanish caricatures are satirised - bull fighting, flamenco
etc but not to the same effect and wit as some other Asterix
abroad books.
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