Asterix: Asterix and The Magic Carpet: Album 28

Description

The little Gaulish village where Asterix and Obelix live has just one drawback - its bard is the worst musician in the entire ancient world. When Cacofonix strikes up, his singing sends the sun behind clouds and makes rain begin to fall. But that's just what they want in the distant Eastern kingdom of Rajah Watzit, where the guru Hoodunnit, with his sidekick Owzat, is threatening to end a terrible drought by sacrificing the lovely Princess Orinjade. The fakir Watziznehm arrives by flying carpet to ask the Gauls for help - and just for once, after many adventures, Cacofonix can feel that his talents are properly appreciated.

Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Argentina, before eventually moving to Paris in 1951. He died in 1977. Albert Uderzo was born in 1927 in a small village in Marne, France. He met Rene Goscinny in 1951 and on 29 October 1959 their most famous creation, Asterix, made his first appearance on page 20 of Pilote. Asterix the Gaul, their first album, was published in 1961 and there have now been 33 Asterix albums. Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Argentina, before eventually moving to Paris in 1951. He died in 1977.

A cartoon drawn with such supreme artistry, and a text layered with such glorious wordplay, satire and historical and political allusion that no reader should ever feel like they've outgrown it.--TIME OUT The Asterix books represent the very summit of our achievement as a literary race. In Asterix one finds all of human life. The fact that the books were written originally in French is no matter. I have read them all in many languages and, like all great literature, they are best in English. Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, Asterix's translators since the very beginning, have made great books into eternal flames.--THE TIMES