The Adventures Of Tintin – The Broken Ear – First Edition – 1975

Author: Hergé
Price: £250.00
Publisher: Methuen, London, UK
Publication date: 1975
Format: Original pictorial boards with pictorial endpapers
Condition: Fine
Size: 23.2cm x 30.7cm
Pages: 62
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout in colour by the author

Description:

Published by Methuen, London, UK, 1975. 1st UK edition. Original pictorial boards. Pictorial endpapers. Size: 23.2cm x 30.7cm. Pp. 62. Illustrated throughout in colour by the author. Binding nice and tight. Pages very nice and clean. Has the tiniest amount of wear to the spine with none to the edges. Spine unfaded. A fine, tight, clean copy.

‘The Broken Ear’: A Brief Summary

The Broken Ear, first published in 1937 in French, is the sixth volume of The Adventures of Tintin. It is one of the earliest Tintin stories to combine mystery, political intrigue, and satire of South American politics. At its centre is an artefact stolen from a museum—an Arumbaya tribal statue with a broken ear—which draws Tintin into a complex web of theft, murder, and revolution. The story is notable for its darker tone, its satirical edge, and its exploration of greed and corruption.

The Stolen Artefact

The story opens with the theft of a tribal artefact, a small Arumbaya fetish, from the ethnographic museum. Though the statue is later returned, Tintin, ever observant, notices that it is not the same object: the original had a broken ear, while the returned piece is intact. This discrepancy sparks Tintin’s suspicion and sets him on the trail of the mystery.

The artefact is soon linked to a violent chain of events. Murders and betrayals follow as criminals attempt to seize the original fetish, convinced it conceals a hidden secret of immense value.

Tintin’s Investigation

Tintin’s pursuit of the truth leads him from Europe to South America. Along the way, he encounters shady characters, assassins, and rival fortune hunters. Two recurring villains, the ruthless Alonso Pérez and Ramón Bada, emerge as central antagonists. Their determination to obtain the fetish mirrors the greed and treachery that underpin the entire plot.

Snowy, as always, provides both loyalty and comic interludes, though the overall tone of the narrative is more serious and grim than in earlier Tintin adventures.

South American Turmoil

Arriving in the fictional South American republic of San Theodoros, Tintin becomes embroiled in local politics. The country is portrayed as unstable and corrupt, constantly teetering between revolution and dictatorship. Through satire, Hergé parodies the military coups and foreign interference common in Latin America during the early twentieth century.

Tintin is at one point mistaken for a revolutionary and drafted into the army, only to witness first-hand the absurdity and brutality of the regime. These sequences highlight Hergé’s growing interest in embedding social and political commentary within his adventures.

The Secret of the Fetish

The pursuit of the fetish leads Tintin deep into the jungle, where he encounters the Arumbaya people. Though stereotypically depicted in keeping with the attitudes of the 1930s, their presence underscores the colonialist exploitation that runs through the story.

Ultimately, the fetish is revealed to contain a hidden clue connected to a cache of stolen diamonds, explaining the criminals’ relentless pursuit. However, through a mixture of fate and irony, the fetish is lost forever in the river, bringing the cycle of greed and violence to a futile end.

Themes and Significance

The Broken Ear explores themes of greed, corruption, and futility. The artefact, supposedly of cultural and spiritual value, becomes nothing more than a pawn in the schemes of opportunists seeking personal gain. The repeated betrayals and murders demonstrate how avarice consumes all who pursue it.

The story also marks a turning point in Hergé’s work. Its satirical depiction of South American politics, corrupt generals, and futile wars shows his willingness to use Tintin as a vehicle for political commentary. At the same time, the darker tone and moral ambiguity distinguish it from the lighter escapades of earlier volumes.

Conclusion

The Broken Ear is one of the most atmospheric and critical Tintin adventures. With its blend of murder mystery, political satire, and adventure, it highlights both the greed of individuals and the instability of nations. The unresolved fate of the fetish underscores the futility of material obsession, while Tintin’s perseverance and moral clarity provide the only stable anchor in a world of corruption. As such, the book represents an important stage in Hergé’s development as both an artist and a social commentator, ensuring its place as a significant and thought-provoking entry in the Tintin canon.

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