ENJOYING ASTÉRIX AND THE LAUREL WREATH IN GENÈVE

Today, The Grandma has received fantastic news from Joseph de Ca'th Lon, one of her closest friends. Last Wednesday, Joseph was able to watch a fascinating UWCL match live in his own city between Servette Football Club Genève and OL. It was a very emotional evening for Joseph, who got to see the Northern Star and enjoy her play in his Swiss hometown.

This time, Claire Fontaine and The Grandma could not join Joseph, but both were delighted for him -and for the Northern Star, whose team secured the victory in a highly entertaining match.

The evening was so full of excitement that, upon returning home, Joseph found it hard to fall asleep and decided to read another Astérix adventure, this time Astérix and the Laurel Wreath. 

The UWCL is the most exciting competition in women's football, and just like Astérix in this new adventure where he seeks Caesar's laurels, Northern Star has also begun the tournament with the aim of reaching the final and -this time-being crowned the winner. She deserves it, and Joseph, Claire, and The Grandma will all be following her very closely throughout the competition.

Astérix and the Laurel Wreath, in French Les Lauriers de César, is the eighteenth volume of the Astérix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was originally serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 621-642, in 1971 and translated into English in 1974.

The album is rich in cultural references, including allusions to famous sculptures like The Thinker and the Discobolus, and parodies of French television personalities.

Historical References

Caesar's campaign against the pirates, a key plot point, is based on a real-life incident from Caesar's youth.

-The phrase Delenda Carthago (Carthage must be destroyed) was famously used by the Roman senator Cato the Elder in every one of his speeches to the Senate, emphasizing the need for the complete destruction of the Carthaginian city-state.

-The original French version features a more cursive and difficult-to-read lettering style, adding a unique visual element to the album.

-Astérix and the Laurel Wreath is a testament to the enduring brilliance of Goscinny and Uderzo. It is a hilarious and thought-provoking adventure that continues to entertain readers with its witty dialogue, captivating artwork, and insightful commentary on Roman society.

-This is by far the most adult-oriented of all the Astérix stories. 

-At Typhus's store, a male slave makes poses based on famous statues: Auguste Rodin's The Thinker, Apollon of Olympia, the Laocoon, and the Discobolus.

-The recipe for the hangover cure is: Cook an unplucked hen, carbolic soap, jam, black peppercorns, salt, kidney, figs, honey, black pudding, pomegranate seeds, egg and Spanish pepper.

-The Circus Maximus wrangler makes a cameo appearance in The Twelve Tasks of Astérix. He is the only one-shot background character to do so.

-The trainer standing next to the fatted lion in the arena is a caricature of Jean Richard, a French actor who ran a zoo and a circus outside Paris.

-Caesar's campaign against the pirates (here the ones Astérix and Obélix frequently encounter) was inspired by a real incident wherein a younger Caesar was captured by pirates who demanded a ransom for his return -and which he himself subsequently increased on the grounds that he was worth more. The ransom was paid and Caesar released; but he later captured and executed the pirates, as he himself had promised them during his captivity.

-In the original French version and some other translations, the speech given by the Circus Maximus tour guide is given in various dialects and in Fraktur script. This pun effect is somewhat lost in the original English version.

-This volume made an appearance in the Mr. Bean episode, Goodnight Mr. Bean.

Key Lessons From Astérix and the Laurel Wreath

-Pride causes trouble. Chief Vitalstatistix makes a foolish promise out of anger toward his smug, wealthy brother-in-law, showing how ego drives us into tough spots.

-Teamwork wins. Astérix and Obélix rely on each other's unique skills and the help of others to navigate the massive maze of Rome and solve their problems.

-Perseverance pays off. Facing an impossible task like getting Caesar's crown requires staying focused and not giving up when plans go wrong.

-Cleverness over force. Instead of just fighting their way through Caesar's palace, they use a smart swap with parsley to achieve their goal peacefully.

-Appreciate the simple things. The story mocks the empty value of snobbery and high-status symbols, reminding us that simple, honest life is best.

Download Astérix and the Laurel Wreath by R. Goscinny & A. Uderzo

Mais… Il sait sortir d’accord, 
mais rien ne prouve q

u’il sache entrer, et…

But… all right, he knows how to get out, 
but there’s nothing to prove 

that he knows how to get in, and…

Obélix