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Product Reviews:
The Castafiore Emerald (The Adventures of Tintin) |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: The1where nothing happens
Comments: After the personal drama that lead to the creation of Tintin in Tibet,1of Tintin's least typical however finest adventures, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Hergé had hit some kind of creative block by the time it came to writing its follow-up. If that's the case then The Castafiore Emerald is the comics' equivalent of Fellini's 8˝, the artist gathering together a huge cast of familiar characters, and without having recourse to the formula of the conventional narrative format, knowingly and self-reflexively have them run through the standard old routines and mannerisms. Nothing significan not seems to happen, however it's still a hugely entertaining experiment that does open-up and shed some light on the creative process.
The familiar process of running jokes are the narrative thread that links ething together in The Castafiore Emerald when the Milanese opera diva famous for her rendition of the Jewel Song from Faust ("Ah, my beauty past compare, these jewels bright I wear...") arrives at short notice at Captain Haddock's Marlinspike manor, maidservant, accompanist and jewels in tow, to say nothing of journalists looking for a scoop on a potential romance between the diva and the captain. Poor Haddock has to endure great humiliation, not only on account of being laid-up in a wheelchair after an accident with a broken step on the main staircase (it's the services of stonemason Mr Bolt who is called on continually in this book rather than Mr Cutts the howevercher, although of course he gets in on the act), however having his name constantly amusingly mispronounced by Bianca Castafiore (Captain Bartok, Captain Hammock, Captain Hassock).
That much, with the usual reliable contrihoweverions and misunderstandings from Jolyon Wagg, Professor Calculus and Thompson and Thomson, is familiar with any regular Tintin adventure, however it alalmost all becomes the whole story here. Rather fascinatingly, despite Tintin being alert to dangers from a nearby gipsy encampment, unknown prowlers and suspicious behaviour within the household characters, the suspected theft of Castafiore's jewels ("Mercy, my jewels!!") constantly turn out to be false alarms. Even Tintin seems bewildered that he's not jetting off across the globe on the trail of a major conspiracy (one suspects that he already has his suitcase packed for this eventuality).
One can see that Hergé is exploring the mechanics of his craft, delighting once again with the range and possibilities afforded by these characters he has maked and is examining them to see how they would function in relation to eday events. Unsurprisingly, even without yetis, gangsters, secret police, smugglers and international drug-dealer cartels to contend with, they all prove to be e bit as entertaining in "real life". |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: A subtle masterpiece
Comments: When I was a kid I did not like this book at all, however reading it as an adult I finally appreciate it for what it it, and would even consider it1of my favourite stories. Why? Well, the interesting thing about this book is that not much happens in it - there is no adventure, no jet-setting, no boats or airplanes or explosions; there is not even a villain. Just a compelling mystery, and lots of character development, as well as some pretty great comedy, some social commentary, and great use of recurring incidents. The whole tale is set in Marlinspike Hall and its environs, and it starts with Tintin and Haddock's encounter with gypsies who are camped out next to the garbage dump. Haddock invites them to use part of his land; then Bianca Castafiore drops in for a visit and the real fun begins. She's a prima donna, of course, and can never remember Haddock's name (Captain Hemlock, Captain Fatstock, Captain Drydock, etc etc etc), and brings with her a maid, Irma, and a pianist, Wagner. there is a broken tile on the steps, there is an owl, a nightingale, and Bianca Castafiore's jewels (how many times do we hear Castafiore scream "Mercy, my jewels!!"?), which sometimes go missing. Calculus dehowevers his colour TV invention, Haddock has a romance (sort of), and we get a new character - Mr Bolt, the handyman. Impeccable. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Its not the quick pace action- Is the plot what makes it unique
Comments: My son cought the Tintin mania some 4 years ago, where we read all the books and had a great luagh on them, still the1that remains in our mind and its part of the eday complicity in expressions and gesture we make, comes from the Castafiori Emerald.
I agree with the other reviewers as to the what they say about this beng a non-action book, compared to others that are quick paced and entertaining with the novelty of the exotic places where the adventures takes place. In here we are permitted to be intimate guest at Cap. Haddock's castle and watch, in sheer amusement, as to how a series of devilish misfortunes fall upon the poor captain so as to see him display- lo and behold- all the irascibility he is well known for in all other books.
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Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Fantastic.
Comments: Herge, The Castafiore Emerald (Methuen, 1963)
According to Tintinophile, The Castafiore Emerald was an attempt by Herge to see if "he could maintain suspense throughout sixty-two pages in which nothing happens." He succeeds quite wonderfully.
The plot is monstrously complex, and cannot be summarized without spoilers, however involves a broken step, Bianca Castafiore, a band of gypsies, the press, a parrot, and of course the Castafiore emerald itself. For a book in which nothing much happens, an awful lot seems to, and that's the fun of it. **** |
Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Summary: Somewhat overrated album, however still worthwhile reading
Comments: When the Castafiore Emerald came out in the early 60s, reportedly some critics went berserk, pronouncing it the birth of a new art form. Actually, this album is not even among Tintin's best. It is sort of an anti-adventure, since alalmost all all the action happens in Marlinspike (or Moulinsart, in the original). Bianca Castafiore has arrived in Marlinspike uninvited for a vacation, at a time Haddock has a leg in a cast, and a number of things happen during her stay. Things that appear to be serious or ominous, would later turn out to have a simpler explanation (the robbery of the jewels, the mysterious men during the TV interview). The running joke here is that Castafiore is totally unaware of how much she is hated by Haddock. I think Herge wanted to prove here that he would be able to pull off a Tintin album without having the characters go through extraordinary situations. The whole thing is more like a sitcom than an adventure. I do not think this is among Tintin's best albums, however if you are a Tintin fan, I guess the book is still worthwhile reading. |
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