Asterix The Gaul (Asterix (Orion Paperback)) (Paperback)

Ah, the translations. Asterix owes his success in the English-speaking world to the brilliance of the translators, Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge. They've been responsible for all the Asterix books since "Asterix the Gaul" first appeared in English in 1969, an amazing record. So true is their work to the spirit of the French originals, that it's as though Goscinny and Uderzo had produced the books in English in the first place. Some of the jokes are arguably better in English than in French, especially the names. Having two legionaries called Sendervictorius and Appianglorius, in "Asterix the Gladiator", gives three jokes for the price of two. (Asterix trivia: Anthea Bell is the sister of Martin Bell, the former BBC war correspondent.)

24 Asterix books were written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, with the first appearing in France in 1961. Then in 1977 Goscinny died at the tragically early age of 51. Uderzo has since produced seven more books on his own, as well as some collections of other material, and they're very good. But René Goscinny's genius is sorely missed.

The French versions have never been out of print - hardly surprising as Asterix is a French national icon. But the first 24 in the series, the finest ones, have been unavailable in English for several years. Orion Books are now putting that right, and have - for the most part - made a very good job of it. The work of re-colouring and re-inking the pages has transformed them, especially the first in the series, "Asterix the Gaul". The typefaces have also been recast, and are more legible and closer in style to the French edition. The books are now printed, in France, on high quality glossy paper in the classic hardback format. All in all, the English Asterix books are now produced to a higher standard than the current French edition from Hachette. That's quite an achievement.

But there are flaws. Many of the jokes come from the imaginative use of different typefaces, an area in which both Goscinny and Uderzo had a special interest. So the Goths speak in Gothic script, the Egyptians in hieroglyphics (which are often really symbols from the Michelin Guide) and so on. Some of this has been lost in the new Orion versions. So whenever Obelix shakes someone, their words should appear twice, overlapping, to suggest vibration. In the new books this doesn't happen, a good joke missed. Then the lookout on the pirate ship has lost his American Deep South accent. Is this political correctness? It's robbed us of a much loved character. And the cover of "Asterix and Cleopatra" no longer boasts that it's "the greatest story ever drawn" in a deliberate echo of the poster for the film "Cleopatra". And there are some silly mistakes that weren't there before.

But these are quibbles. The Asterix series is triumphantly back in English for a new generation to enjoy. Buy all 31 books (and "Asterix and the Class Act", a fine collection of shorter material). Then get them all again in French from Amazon.fr while you're about it, for more than double the fun. You, and your children, will be glad you did.