René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo — Asterix the Legionary — First UK Edition, 1970, with Scarce Brockhampton Press La Zizanie Leaflet

René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo — Asterix the Legionary — First UK Edition, 1970, with Scarce Brockhampton Press La Zizanie Leaflet

GOSCINNY, René; UDERZO, Albert.
Asterix the Legionary.
Leicester: Brockhampton Press, 1970. First UK edition. Quarto. Illustrated throughout in colour. Original pictorial laminated boards. With the scarce contemporary Brockhampton Press explanatory leaflet La Zizanie, by Doreen A. Waldron, loosely inserted.

Description

A bright first UK edition of Asterix the Legionary, published by Brockhampton Press in 1970, made considerably more interesting by the presence of a scarce contemporary Brockhampton Press educational leaflet, La Zizanie, by Doreen A. Waldron, preserved loosely inserted.

Originally published in French as Astérix légionnaire, the story follows Asterix and Obelix as they enlist in the Roman army in an attempt to rescue Tragicomix, the fiancé of the beautiful Panacea, who has been forcibly conscripted into Caesar’s forces. Their subsequent military training and journey to North Africa allow René Goscinny to parody army life, military discipline, bureaucracy, recruitment and the cultural differences between the various peoples incorporated into the Roman Empire.

The album is one of the particularly successful examples of the partnership between René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Goscinny’s narrative combines adventure with linguistic humour, satire and recurrent jokes about military organisation, while Uderzo’s energetic artwork fills the Roman training camp and legionary scenes with an extraordinary range of characters, expressions and visual comedy.

The English translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge was central to the success of Asterix in Britain. Rather than attempting literal translations of Goscinny’s many puns and linguistic jokes, Bell and Hockridge frequently recreated them for an English-speaking readership, producing versions which became highly regarded in their own right.

The Scarce La Zizanie Leaflet

Of particular interest is the loosely inserted Brockhampton Press leaflet entitled La Zizanie. The notes were compiled by Doreen A. Waldron, B.A., Head of Modern Languages at St Gregory’s School, Bedford, and were intended to explain linguistic, historical and cultural references within the French-language Asterix books.

The leaflet provides detailed page-by-page annotations explaining French vocabulary, puns, character names, classical references, idiomatic expressions and historical allusions. Its opening discussion explains the formation of Gaulish and Roman names in the series, including the characteristic -ix and -us endings, while subsequent notes analyse many of Goscinny’s verbal jokes and references.

The final page carries a 1970 Brockhampton Press copyright statement and lists the contemporary French Asterix titles distributed in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It also advertises the English-language Brockhampton editions translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, including Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and Cleopatra, Asterix the Gladiator, Asterix in Britain, Asterix the Legionary and Asterix and the Big Fight.

As an ephemeral item intended for practical educational use rather than permanent retention, the leaflet is an unusual survival and provides valuable contemporary evidence for the way Brockhampton Press promoted Asterix both as popular entertainment and as material for the study of French language and culture in Britain. We have been unable to trace a separately catalogued institutional copy.

Binding and Early British Issue

The original laminated front board carries Uderzo’s colourful design showing Asterix and Obelix dressed as Roman legionaries, together with a pair of exhausted Roman soldiers. The rear board retains the characteristic early Brockhampton design of Asterix following Obelix beneath his menhir, which lists the previously published British titles.

The original printed price of 12/- (60p) and ISBN 0 340 10392 2 appear at the foot of the rear board.

A desirable example of an early British Asterix first edition, significantly enhanced by the survival of the contemporary Brockhampton Press La Zizanie leaflet. We have been unable to trace a separately catalogued institutional copy.

Condition

Very good. The original pictorial laminated boards are bright and clean, with minor marks and light creasing. The binding is tight and firm. Internally, the pages are very nice and clean throughout, with the colour illustrations remaining fresh and bright.

The loosely inserted La Zizanie leaflet is very well preserved and clean, with only minor signs of handling.

A bright and attractive copy with an unusual and highly relevant piece of contemporary Asterix publishing ephemera.

Bibliographical Details

Authors: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Illustrator: Albert Uderzo
Title: Asterix the Legionary
Publisher: Brockhampton Press
Place of Publication: Leicester
Date: 1970
Edition: First UK edition
Format: Quarto
Illustration: Illustrated throughout in colour
Binding: Original pictorial laminated boards
Printed Price: 12/- (60p)
ISBN: 0 340 10392 2
Additional Material: La Zizanie, explanatory notes by Doreen A. Waldron, B.A., Head of Modern Languages, St Gregory’s School, Bedford; Brockhampton Press, copyright 1970; loosely inserted
Condition: Very good

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