In an article in the French daily Le Monde, Sylvie Uderzo, the daughter of Astérix co-creator Albert Uderzo, protests against Hachette Livre taking over a majority stake in Les Editions Albert René, the publisher of the world-famous Astérix books.
In December 2008 Hachette gained a stake of 60% in the company, partly by acquiring a 20% interest from Anne Goscinny, René Goscinny’s daughter. The remaining 40% is still controlled by the Uderzos. Hachette already publishes the Astérix books created before Les Editions Albert René were founded.
Sylvie Uderzo, the former general manager of the publishing house that was founded in 1979 after Astérix co-creator René Goscinny had died, contests that this move grants Hachette the sole right to decide what will happen with Astérix after her father’s retirement or death. Unlike Hergé, who had specifically specified in his will that after his death no new Tintin books were to be published, Albert Uderzo went on creating new and successful books after his partner died. Anne Goscinny, in the mean time, has given her specific approval to continue the series.
(zut alors, the smiles hide the fact that all is not plain sailing in the world of plucky little Gauls)
According to Sylvie Uderzo, she simply has to stand up against the natural enemies of the little Gaul: captains of industry and bankers. “Those who like Julius Caesar or Darth Vader have forced my father to renounce all values he taught me: independence, brotherhood and resistance”. She claims that people in her father’s entourage have mislead him in order to wrestle control of the company out of her hands, after she had taken over the reigns from him in 2001 at his request.
Fri, Jan 16, 2009
Comics and cartoons, From our Continental Correspondent