Tintin: A Biography - Hardcover

Thompson, Harry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 034052393X ISBN 13: 9780340523933

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton General Division, 1991

Synopsis

Tintin, the young reporter, has become a worldwide cartoon phenomenon, rivalled only by Asterix, a cult with a following among adults and children alike. How did this apparently simple character gain such a hold? What is the secret of his appeal? And what was his shadowy creator - Georges Remi, "Herge", really like? Harry Thompson, a lifelong Tintin fan, has written a dual biography. On the one hand he charts Tintin's progress from a doodle on a school exercise book during World War I to the young reporter used first for propaganda, then for political satire under the guise of adventure stories, into character comedy and even on to the moon, well ahead of real-life astronauts. And on the other he tells of a strongly moral man, the researcher and perfectionist, who turned himself into a great artist through sheer effort and travelled the world, escaping from the boredom of a desk-job in Brussels. He examines accusations against Remi of collaboration during the last war, his wariness in relationships, and his loss of creativity.

About this title

About the Author:

Harry Thompson is the inventor and editor of many TV comedy series including Have I Got News For You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He is the author of acclaimed bestsellers, including Peter Cook: A Biography. His most recent book is a historical novel, This Thing of Darkness. He worked as a producer at Talkback TV and in his spare time ran an infamous cricket team, the Captain Scott XI. He died in November 2005.

Review:

Praise for Tintin: Herge & His Creation --- 'As biographies go, they don't come much more definitive than Harry Thompson's hugely enjoyable account of Tintin' James Delingpole, Sunday Telegraph 'Harry Thompson rings all the right bells...a joyous Tintinabulation' Piers Brendon, Mail on Sunday 'A major biography...witty and sympathetic' Jonathan Sale, Financial Times 'Thompson...is motivated by such admiration for Herge and such affection for Tintin that his pleasure is communicated. I am keen to reread Tintin in the light of what I know now' Nicholas Garland, Daily Telegraph 'A delightful portrait...well-organised and well researched...witty, fascinating and just a little mad...it is more or less impossible not to like this book' The European 'As a broad, bright Herge-like brush-stroke, it has genuine appeal' Guardian 'The first book in English on Tintin to have an idea in it' The Times 'An admirably organised double biography... For specialists and for the myriad devotees of the stories this book is a must' Frank Muir, Sunday Express 'Immensely detailed...it contains a great deal of fascinating information' GQ

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton General Division
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 034052393X
• ISBN 13: 9780340523933
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240