Asterix and Caeser's Gift - René Goscinny

Many fans of the famous comic books starring the indomitable Gauls, who hold out against the Roman invasion in 50BC, would hold that there are 24 "real" books in the Asterix series - which is to say, those written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, rather than the later books entirely produced by Uderzo after Goscinny's death. "Asterix and Caesar's Gift" (Dooyoo's title is mis-spelt!) is number 21 in the series, having been published in France in 1974 and the UK three years later. As always, the English translators were the excellent team of Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, who deserve a huge amount of the credit for the series' ...  Read the complete review

The year is 50BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely… One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium… When Roman Legionaries come to the end of their twenty years’ service, they are given a gift from Caesar before they start life as a civilian. A nice little plot of land, maybe. Two soldiers, a Centurion called Egganlettus and a drunkard called Tremensdelerius, are celebrating the night before they receive their gift. As usual, Tremensdelerius has had a little too much to drink… ...  Read the complete review