Chapter 19. Asterix and the Soothsayer

Rene Goscinny

Albert Uderzo

English Translations: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge

Abstract

A wandering soothsayer arrives in the village and creates havoc amongst the gullible villagers. When the Romans capture him they try to enlist his help in defeating the Gauls. Only a sceptically Asterix can save the day...

Table 19.1. Asterix and the Soothsayer - Annotations

Page, Panel Comment
Page 1, Panel 2 See 'Forest of Carnutes' in Geography
Page 5, Panel 7 Brutus killed Caesar with a dagger
Page 6, Panel 10 A caricature of Rembrandt's "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicholas Tulp"
"The Anatomy Lesson of the Soothsayer" by Uderzo
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholas Tulp" by Rembrandt
Page 7, Panel 10 and Page 8, Panel 5 Either Geriatrix has a twin brother or has been drawn twice in error. See the bottom right of the pile of Gauls pounding each other.
Page 10, Panel 11 Homeopathix = see Asterix and the Laurel Wreath
Page 29, Panel 4 "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside..."
Page 33, Panel 1 This looks like a group posing for a photo. A famous photograph / painting ???
Page 40, Panel 2 Romulus and Remus are the legendary founders of Rome, raised by a she-wolf

Table 19.2. Asterix and the Soothsayer - Names

Name (in order of appearance) Comment
Intelligensia (MI5) MI5 is a British intelligence agency concerned with state security
Mania Mania: a madness
Prolix Prolix: long-winded, wordy
Myopia Myopia: literal shortsightedness
Voluptuous Arteriosclerosus Voluptuous: more than ample; ateriosclerosis:hardening of the artieries
Statistix Statstics
Bulbus Crocus Bulbous crocus: a flower of the iris family in its bolbous root state.