
Asterix
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List of Asterix volumes
Interview: Anthea Bell, the translator who makes Asterix funny in English
MOST readers will have heard of Goscinny and Uderzo, the French writer and illustrator team whose Asterix books have sold 325 million copies. However, Asterix would not be a household name in English-speaking countries without the skills of translator Anthea Bell who (previously with Derek Hockridge, recently on her own) has made the adventures of the Gauls fresh and fun to generations of English-speakers. Oliver Rowland spoke to Ms Bell, 73, from Cambridge, about her work, including translating the new album Asterix and Obelix’s Birthday - The Golden Book (Orion Books Ltd) which marks the character’s 50th anniversary. It is said you get your lateral-thinking from your father, who compiled The Times crossword? Yes, he was approached by the editor of The Times with a problem - The Daily Telegraph had started this new-fangled craze from America and The Times needed to keep up.Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix ( French : Astérix or Astérix le Gaulois , IPA: [asteʁiks lə ɡolwa] ) is a series of French comics written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo (Uderzo took over the writing after the death of Goscinny in 1977). The series first appeared in the French comics magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959. As of 2012, 34 volumes have been released. The series follows the exploits of a village of indomitable Gauls as they resist Roman occupation. They do so by means of a magic potion, brewed by their druid , which gives the recipient superhuman strength. The protagonist, the titular character Asterix , along with his friend Obelix have various adventures.

