Nicholas - Hardcover

Goscinny, Rene; Sempé, Jean-Jacques

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0714844829 ISBN 13: 9780714844824

Publisher: Phaidon Press, 2005

Synopsis

In France and Germany practically every child of seven and upwards knows the adventures of Nicholas. Written by the author of Asterix, René Goscinny, and with illustrations by New Yorker illustrator, Jean-Jacques Sempé, the five Nicholas books tell of the endearing exploits of the young French school boy and his chums. Available in twenty six languages and established as a literary cult figure, the sublimely innocent Nicholas has seduced millions of readers all over the world. Considered a classic and regularly used by primary and junior school teachers, these stories have the ability to delight both children and adults. Nicholas is the first of five titles to become available to English speaking children all over the world

In some way similar to the cheekiness of Calvin and Hobbes and the innocence and naiveté of characters created by the Italian film maker Roberto Benigni, Goscinny and Sempé have created a world of confusion that makes you chuckle out load. Written between 1959 and 1965 these classic books are continually reprinted around the globe and offer, not only an entertaining read, but a vivid description of French life and culture

About this title

Review:

'Lovable, naïve and very French, Nicholas is timeless.'
The Guardian

'illustrated with diabolic humour by Jean Jacques Sempé ... a series of subversive stories about a little French boy which has captivated readers since the Sixties.'
Evening Standard

'a chic and sturdily childproof new English edition, translated in ebullient vernacular by Anthea Bell'
The Spectator

'hilarious and timeless anecdotes that will have readers giggling.'
School Library Journal

'...Liberally endowed with Sempe's tiny, comic cartoon figures, these whimsical mini-adventures will captivate readers...'
Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

René Goscinny (1926-77), born in Paris, lived most of his early years in Buenos Aires and New York. He returned to France in the 1950s where he met Jean-Jacques Sempé and together they created the character of Nicholas, the famous schoolboy. He later worked with Albert Uderzo on making the adventures of Asterix the Gaul. A prolific and internationally successful children's author, he is also the creator of Lucky Luke and Dingodossiers, among others. He received Césars repeatedly for his numerous animated cartoons.

Jean-Jacques Sempé (b.1932), expelled from school for bad behaviour, enjoyed a vast range of jobs including winebroker and supervisor at children's holiday camps. His world-renowned illustrations and cartoons are featured on the covers of the New Yorker magazine and amuse the readers of Paris Match and the Figaro Littéraire on a weekly basis.

Anthea Bellwas awarded the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and the Helen and Kurt Wolff Prize (USA) in 2002 for her translation of W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz. Her many works of translation from French and German (for which she has received several other awards) include the Nicholas books and, with Derek Hockridge, the entire Asterix the Gaul saga by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

About this edition

• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0714844829
• ISBN 13: 9780714844824
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 132