Asterix in Corsica
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| Asterix in Corsica | |
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| French Title: | Asterix en Corse |
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| Story: | Rene Goscinny |
| Illustrations: | Albert Uderzo |
| French Edition: | 1973 |
| English Translation: | 1979 |
| Preceded by: | Asterix and the Soothsayer |
| Followed by: | Asterix and Caesar's Gift |
Asterix in Corsica is the twentieth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was originally serialized in Pilote issues 687-708 in 1973. It is the best-selling title in the history of the series, owing to its sales in the French market, but is one of the lowest-selling titles in the English language.
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[edit] Plot Summary
It begins, oddly, with a banquet celebrating the anniversary of Vercingetorix's victory at the Battle of Gergovia. Apparently this is custom for the Indomitable Gauls, followed by an attack on the local Roman camps. As a result, most of the Roman soldiers go on special manoeuvres to avoid the punch-up.
This year's events are unusual, however. Nearly all of the foreigners who have supported rebellion against the Romans in any book have been invited as guests, with the exception of Druid Valuddetax. Among the comers are Huevos Y Bacon with his wife and son Pepe, Anticlimax from Britain alongside Dipsomaniax the tavern-keeper, McAnix the Scotsman, O'veroptimistix the Irishman, and Chief Mykingdomforanos, Winesanspirix from Gergovia, Drinklikafix of Massalia, Jellibabix of Lugdunum, Petitsuix from Helvetia, Seniorservix from Gesocribatum, and a few more. This may be because this was the last story published in Pilote magazine.
The Roman camp, too, has a visitor; the Corsican leader Boneywasawarriorwayayix, exiled by Praetor Perfidius. He is left to spend the night in a local Centurion's tent, to its owner's dismay. The Roman camp is decimated by the Gauls and their friends, who discover Boneywasawarriorwayayix stoically awaiting his doom.
When it made known to the proud young man that he is free to go home, he attends the Gaulish banquet and subsequently leaves with Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix accompanying him. At Massalia, he hires a ship crewed by none other than the Red Beard Captain and his motley muddle of pirates. Although the pirates agree to transport Boneywasawarriorwayayix, Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix, their real plan is to strip them of wealth and make them walk the plank halfway to Corsica.
Of course, it doesn't work. The African lookout recognizes "The Gau... The Gauu... The Gauls" and blows the alarm. The pirates vacate the ship in a rowboat, and follow the ship at a distance to Corsica.
Within an hour's travel from the Corsican coast, Boneywasawarriorwayayix invites the Gauls to share a pungent Corsican cheese. They decline, and so does he in favor of the country where it was made. The four of them swim ashore, where they are noticed by a Roman patrol. The Romans come to investigate the ship for anything suspicious, but find nothing. As they leave, the pirates arrive to conduct their own investigation. Unfortunately, the presence of a burning torch causes the fumes from the Corsican cheese to explode, sinking the ship.
A young Roman called Courtingdisastus (courting disasters) captures the Pirate Chief and brings him as a prisoner before the Praetor. From him the Romans learn that Boneywasawarriorwayayix, a known revolutionary leader, has returned from exile. Courtingdisastus swears to recapture him.
Hearing of this vow, the Corsican leader and the Gauls travel through a nearly impenetrable forest to a rendezvous where several clan chieftains are to gather and merge their armies for the attack on the Roman city Aleria, where the Praetor is busy gathering treasure.
In Aleria, Perfidius plans to leave his men in the lurch, sailing away in the pirate ship with all the loot he has purloined from the Corsicans. The attack, however, comes swiftly and his plan fails. In the process, a vendetta between the clans of Boneywasawarriorwayayix and Olabellamargaritix, fought over something no one remembers, is settled by the diplomatic Asterix.
The Gauls return with fond memories of their trip.
[edit] References
- Throughout the album the stereotypical laziness of the Corsicans is satirized, often in combination with their well known siesta. This however, has much to do with the hot climate on the island.
- The Corsican feeling of honor and respect is satirized several times, just like the cliché that they are easily vexed.
- In the original French version Boneywasawarriorwayayix is called Ocatarinetabellachitchix. Asterix at one points pronounces his name incorrectly as "Omarinella...". Both are songs by Corsican singer Tino Rossi: "Tchi-Tchi" and "Marinella". Further in the comic strip the secret password the Gauls need to give in order to get on the ship that will bring them to Corsica is also a reference to Rossi. "Vieni vieni" (in the French version) is also a song by Rossi.
- The sentence about "the urns filled before the elections" (page 25) is a reference to the political scandals in Corsica due to election frauds.
- The vendetta, feuds and fights between different Corsican clans become more apparent from page 26 onwards. The knives they use are authentic vendetta knives. (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Vendetta_knife01.jpg)
- Wild boars, chestnuts (used in many dishes and drinks on the island), old people sitting on benches commenting on things happening in their environment and the notorious smell of Corsican cheese are referenced.
- The famous bushes (maquis) where in past centuries many highwaymen and Corsican nationalists hid are referenced. It is also notorious as a place where tourists easily get lost.
- The Corsican emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is referenced in:
- The English name for Ocatarinetabellachitchix: "Boneywasawarriorwayayix", which is a reference to the sea chanty "Boney was a warrior" about Napoleon. (When Asterix mistakes his name in the English version he addresses him as "Wellingtonwasa...", a reference to the Duke of Wellington.)
- Ocatarinetabellachitchix discovers Corsica is nearby by tasting the smell. Napoleon once said he could recognize his island with his eyes closed, just by smelling its scent. Even during his exile in Elba he could still remember the scent.
- Asterix's remark that the Corsicans have "une grande armée" ("a large army"- Napoleon's army was nicknamed that way)
- Ocatarinetabellachitchix's remark that "le sommeil d'Osterlix" is very famous in their country (Osterlix is a Corsican clan leader in the album. "Le sommeil" means "the sleep". The sentence is a pun on "Le soleil d' Austerlitz" ("The sun of Austerlitz", named after Napoleon's famous victory in the Battle of Austerlitz)
- And finally in Ocatarinetabellachitchix' speech towards Perfidius where he strikes the famous Napoleon pose and says "that Corsicans will only accept an emperor if he's Corsican".
[edit] Trivia
- This is the first time the extent of the Pirates' fear of the Gauls is revealed. Of course, it is a most humorous instance, since the Pirates would fear the Gauls even when they are asleep.
