Nicholas
Nicholas
Nicholas

Nicholas Text by René Goscinny, with illustrations by Jean-Jacques Sempé

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Nicholas is the first in a series of five books, that bring to life the day-to-day adventures of a young school boy - amusing, endearing and always in trouble. An only child, Nicholas appears older at school than he does at home; his touchingly naive reactions to different situations cut through the preconceptions of adults to result in a formidable sequence of escapades.

This first book in the series contains a collection of 19 individual stories in which, despite trying to be good, Nicholas and his friends always seem to end up in some sort of mischief. In the school room, at home and in the playground, their exuberance often takes over and the results are calamitous - at least for their teachers and parents. Whether confusing the photographer hired to take the class picture, rescuing a 'stray' dog, or trying desperately to help the teacher when the school inspector pays a visit, Nicholas always manages to make matters worse. This hilarious and heart-warming book will ignite laughter in children and adults alike. These stories of Nicholas' cureless antics blend a wonderfully imaginative sense of humour with a refreshing take on life, to leave a lingering aftertaste of ageless romantic charm in any reader. Specifications:

  • Format: Paperback
  • Size: 214 x 145 mm (8 3/8 x 5 3/4 in)
  • Pages: 136 pp
  • ISBN: 9780714861159

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 Bell was 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.

"Nicholas has an engagingly positive outlook on life, loves school despite his academic failings, and has refined the art of driving his parents up the wall, while remaining b

"Nicholas has an engagingly positive outlook on life, loves school despite his academic failings, and has refined the art of driving his parents up the wall, while remaining blissfully unaware of how infuriating they find him."—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

"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

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

lissfully unaware of how infuriating they find him."—Guardian

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