As others here have noted, and harshly critized, the translation is not upto the golden standard set by Derek Hockridge and Anthea Bell. I don't particularly mind the name changes, they still convey the characters in a clever way, but a good portion of the book feels like a translation (most of the books amazingly don't seem this way). I need not comment any more on this topic as it has been well explained.

But I want to make another point, one that may be overshadowed by the less perfectionate (though adquate—you can still read the story and understand it) translation: The story is still very good as are the drawings. I would like to rate this version of the book 3.5 stars, but I went up to 4 because of the wonderful illustrations and plot. For the British version though, I would rank it 5 stars. If you can, try getting the British version on ....

A particularly amusing Asterix album , it was first published in 1966 ,in French , as Astérix chez les Bretons and in English in 1970.
After the Roman conquest of Britain ( veni vidi vici and all that...) , a small village of Britons holds out against the Roman invaders just like their counterparts in Gaul.
British chief Mykingdomforanos -aided by his right hand man the Hibernian (Irishman) Overoptimistix and the Caledonian (Scotsman) McAnix- asks one of his favourite men , Aticlimax , to visit his cousin Asterix in Gaul , to seek help.

The result is that he returns to Britain with Asterix , Obelix and a barrel of magic potion. The Romans have however got wind of the news , and they do everything in their power to make sure that the barrel of magic potion does not reach it's destination.

Jam packed with all things British , there are guest appearances by the Beatles ( this book was written when Beatlemania was at its height) and Boadicea. The adventure takes place in such places as the governor's palace in Londinium (Buckingham Palace) , London Bridge , the Tower of London and the Thames.
Our friends are introduced to Rugby and British food (which both the authors and Obelix do not hide their contempt very well) as well as tea (which unbeknown to our heroes plays a large part in the resolution of the story).
There is even a reference to the Channel Tunnel (even though this was written in 1966 , 21 years before construction of the Chunnel begun-the idea was only being talked about then!).

This is my daughter Andrea's (16) favorite Asterix - her favorite word at the moment is "guano" if that makes any difference. Just goes to show you. Her brother Mark (10) has read 'Asterix in Britain' until it's dog-earred.

Funny, funny stuff!

i have all the asterix books and am a big fan. that being said, dont buy this one. its a cheesy "book of the film" version with sub par illustrations and dialog. get the real version, Asterix and the Great Crossing instead.

I found it to be a good read. My childeren loved it. There were some things that they would not understand unless they had been told.

Good-ish book, but lacks the charm of the comics. Asterix doesn't lend itself to narrative form, and that is how this book is presented - with passages told by Asterix and by one of the Roman Officers. It is a transcription of a cartoon movie, more or less, and so is not as creative as the comics or the movie.

It is important to note that this book is based on the film ASTERIX VERSUS CAESAR which, in turn, is based on an adaptation of the books ASTERIX THE GLADIATOR and ASTERIX THE LEGIONARY. So it is three levels of abstraction from "original." Also, the format is a linear text supplemented by many really beautiful reproductions of cells from the movie. Although it is beautiful to look at, and possible to read, it lacks much of the essential pacing and timing that Gosciny and Uderzo are such masters of when working in the traditional "panels with word balloons" format of "comic" books. I imagine it's a good companion to the film, and it certainly is lovely to look at, but it strikes me as less "essential" than most of the other Asterix books. Buy it if you are a completist... or even if you just happen to have and love a bunch of the others. Save it for later if you're just getting acquainted with our friends from the small village of indomitable Gauls.

I grew up with Asterix as a French and I would advise you to read the first 3 albums so you can get to know the characters. After that you can dig in the collection without feeling lost. BUT DO READ THE FIRST 3 ALBUMS. Then you'll really learn to love Asterix and Obelix and you'll enjoy the Movies we made in France with Depardieu as Obelix especially Asterix and Cleopatra (Monica Belucci makes a sexy Cleopatra)

I'm poor lonesome cowboy....and a long long way from home....

I have been an avid Asterix fan almost ALL my life, I have collected pretty much all the Asterix adventures and still love and read them ALL. I think they are ALL brilliant, this is simply NOT Asterix. When I found out there was a new Asterix out there I was very excited, I was reading the other reviews and thought well just how bad can it be, this is Asterix after all... let me tell you, if you are a big fan and familiar with earlier Asterix books, do NOT buy this! It IS THAT bad! I do NOT know what these people who gave it good reviews are on about, Uderzo died a while back and Goscinny has produced some excellent Asterix since, it is not a sudden transition! Call a spade a spade, if you are over ten years old, this is just not worth it, TRUST ME!

I think this is as LOW as Asterix has ever gotten. Come on, Uderzo has simply lost his touch and does not have the same magic as Goscinny. The previous Asterix books were just amazing, but this is just a PATHETIC excuse for an Asterix book. The storyline is weak(ever hear of using an impersonator just to get a helmet and sword? -ridiculous), and the flavor of humor is simply missing, although the old magic is displayed in some instances in the book. However, the drawings are still as good as the old ones, but that cannot save this Asterix from being a flop. I just hope that Uderzo can leave asterix in peace and finish the Great series before damaging its reputation any further.

it wasn't that bad, u ppl sound like lawyers sent by Goscinny's daughter. i still like asterix and yes it is harder for Underzo
to draw the pictures AND write the dialogue, so cut him some slack and show some support instead of ripping him to shreds during this "crisis."

Let me begin by clarifying, I love Asterix books. I read them as a child, and then as an adult who could finally understand all the brilliant puns. I played with Asterix toys. The words "Ferpectly Right!" have been known to escape my lips during a night of debauchery. And I never thought I would be compelled to give one star to an Asterix book.

But this is not a good book. The premise of it excited me...feminism strikes the male-dominated world of Asterix! Certainly, as a young female reader of Asterix, the limitations with which female characters were depicted grew tiresome. A woman was either a nagging wife, or a tempting sex-pot. Enter the female bard in hot pants! I had such high expectations for this book.

But this is not a good book. Perhaps too much time has passed between this Asterix installment and its brilliant predecessors. Perhaps I can love the slapstick, cartoonish violence that charm all Asterix books, but I cannot forgive Asterix for striking a female merely because she angers him.

Beyond my feminist ideals, the jokes fell flat, the story felt contrived. It's so below par from the rest of the wonderful books. Skip this one, and remember, there comes a time when all series really should have been cancelled.

First published in French in 1991 as La Rose et Le Glaive and in English the same year.

The cohesion of the village we know so well is thrown into disarray, when a radical feminist Bard moves into the village to replace Cacofonix. This results in the men of the village moving out!
Meanwhile Julius Caesar. Has come up with his latest plan to defeat the village, a garrison of beautiful female legionnaires arrives in the local Roman camp. The Gauls cannot hit them, covered as they are by the code of Gaullish gallantry. Bravura, luckily, together with Asterix, with whom she has been at loggerheads come up with a plan to save the day.

This one deals head on with the gender debate, in a charming and fun way. Even if a lot of the humour has been recycled from previous Asterix books.

The battle of the sexes comes to the village of our hero Asterix. When a new female bard shows up in the village, the chaos begins...Soon the men and women of the village are divided, Asterix is banished, and to top things off, Rome has cooked up a new plot to bring the village to heel(but that would be telling...). This is a classical romp of how stupid both genders can be, but can pull together when the need arises. Watch the Roman who cooks up the "Secret Weapon" get the pasting he so richly deserves in true slapstick style...

i want to purchase a book from amazone .com.
please permite me to find the desired book .

pavan