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Background
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- English Title: Asterix
in Switzerland
- French Title: Asterix
chez les Helvetes
- Asterix Book Number:
16
- First Published: 1970
- First Published in English:
1973
- Written by:
Rene Goscinny
- Illustrated by: Albert
Uderzo
- Translated By:
Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
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It wasn't Goscinny and Uderzo's idea to send
Asterix to Switzerland, it was actually a suggestion by the
French Prime Minister of the day Georges Pompidou (who then
went on to become president).
But what a good idea it was!
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Plot
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"Quaestor Vexatius Sinusitus, who
is about to expose the Roman Governor's creative accountancy,
has been poisoned. Can Getafix brew an antidote? Only if Asterix
and Obelix find a certain flower for the Druid's potion in
Helvetia. What with bank safes, cuckoo hourglasses, yodeling
and holes in the cheese, they're soon on a real Helvetian
roll. "
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Take
a look Inside
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You can view Images
from Asterix in Switzerland here.
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Notable
Characters
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Governor Varius Flavus
- What it means: Various flavors
- About: Arguably one of the most evil villains
in the Asterix series, Varius Flavus is the Governor of
Condatum. Since the post is for one year, he has been keeping
most of the taxes for himself and sending only a few pieces
of money to Rome. When a Treasurer starts asking questions
he has no hesitations about poisoning him! He is renowned
for his lavish and decadent parties.
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Quaestor Vexatius Sinusitus
- What it means: Vexatious (Annoying) Sinusitis
(inflamed sinuses)
- About: The treasurer for
the provinces, he is sent by Rome to investigate the Governor
of Condatum. When he is taken ill, he suspects that he has
been poisoned. Not trusting the doctors, he sends for Getafix
the Druid.
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Petitsuix
- What it means: Petit Suisse (Little Swiss
- a cheese)
- About: Petisuix runs the Lakeside Hotel
in Geneva. A very muddy Asterix and Obelix turn up looking
for rooms. In order to fool the Roman patrols looking for
them, he is forced to walk around in the Gaul's dirty footwear.
This was abhorrent for him as like all typical Swiss he
likes cleanliness. He also believes in punctuality, calling
"Cuckoo" to all his guests every hour so they
know when to turn over their hourglasses.
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The
Michelin Man
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In the original French editions page
20 saw Asterix and Obelix being served by a small, strange
looking Gaulish warrior. This was the mascot in France
of Petrol company Antar. Such a joke would be lost to
English readers, so the panel was redrawn in the original
English editions to include the tire company mascot
the Michelin man.
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Sadly, the 2004
Revised Editions does not include the redraw, reverting
back to the Antar man. This makes Obelix's joke in the next
panel "Call me fat! Did you see HIS spare tyre?"
completely meaningless!! A real shame.
Stephen's copy includes a very bizare
misprint: "In my copy the change wasn't done correctly.
The Antar man wasn't removed and the Michelin man was superimposed
over the top - and never coloured in white either, so you
could see one through the other."
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Review
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This is actually quite an adult Asterix book - it contains
orgies! Although you don't actually see anything and it
brushes right over children's heads, the sequence takes
on a whole new meaning when you become an adult - "whatever
will they think up next for orgies?". The introduction
to the excellent Asterix
for Adults sums this aspect up quite well.
Very funny moments in this book - most at the Swiss' expense,
but all good-natured of course.
Another classic Asterix abroad book!
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Buy
Asterix in Switzerland
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