Asterix is the highest-selling book series in the world. Worldwide sales now exceed 307,000,000, outstripping even J K Rowling. Asterix has been translated into over 100 languages and dialects. 11,000 web sites devoted to Asterix. Combined UK sales of the last 5 books - 2.2 million copies.

The Asterix books represent the very summit of our achievement as a literary race. In Asterix one finds all of human life. The fact that the books were written originally in French is no matter. I have read them all in many languages and, like all great literature, they are best in English. Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, Asterix's translators since the very beginning, have made great books into eternal flames. THE TIMES"