Asterix in Britain

Asterix in Britain is a French comic book, the eighth in the Asterix series. Originally called Astérix chez les Bretons in French and published in in Pilote no 307 on September 9 1965 (later published in album form in 1966}. Much of the humour in the original French version rests on errors commonly made by British people in attempting to speak the French language, literally translating English proverbs, and using English grammar combined with French words (e.g. in French, adjectives are usually placed after the noun). In the English version, the translators adopt a humorous stereotype British upper class style of speech to distinguish their language from that spoken by Asterix and Obelix.

It was adapted (very faithfully) in to an animated movie in 1986.

Style and content

By this stage the artwork for Asterix books has become well established and standardised along with the plot and character conventions. The colouring and production are of a higher quality than earlier volumes but less pollished and glossy than later ones such as Asterix in Switzerland.

The authors reported that, unlike for some of their other books set outside of Gaul, they received no complaints from British readers about the portrayal of their country.

The book is considered to be one of their best. Its interweaving of panels and text in the Tower of London sequence is ingeniuous while the plot thread that holds the book together --- the search for the barrel of magic potion --- is among their most sustained gags. The sight of Roman legionaries getting drunk off Gaulish wine in the cellar of the Roman Governor's Palace is one of the more memorable episodes of the Asterix series.

Plot summary

Julius Caesar has invaded Britain and succeeded, mainly for reason that the British soldiers stopped fighting every day to drink hot water (with a drop of milk please). As with Gaul, a single village remains independent, defying the Romans. One member of the village, Anticlimax, is despatched to Gaul to enlist the help of Getafix the druid in providing magic potion for the British rebels. It is decided that Asterix and Obelix should accompany him back to his village to help transport the potion (a whole barrel full).

In Britain, the barrel of potion is confiscated from a pub cellar along with all the 'warm beer' (bitter) by the Romans, who set about tasting all the barrels to find the right one. Asterix and Obelix steal back all the barrels but Obelix gets drunk and starts a fight. During the fracas a thief steals the cart with all the barrels. After a brief stay in the Tower of London the three heroes hunt down the potion, which is being used as a pick-me-up for a Rugby team. Eventually the potion is lost in the Thames after an attack from a Roman catapult.

Finally reaching the independent village, Asterix offsets the Britons' disappointment by claiming he carries herbs to remake the potion; these are later revealed to be tea. With a psychological boost, the village prevails against the Romans. Asterix and Obelix return home to the inevitable feast.