The Castafiore Emerald

Tintin books are sweet

This is the first TINTIN i ever owned. I had it around 1982 and read it almost 100 times. I lent it around quite liberally to others who were avid tintin fans. It is based upon the funny but probable possible discourse between a sea faring captian and a singer who popped in at Marlinspike hall . Her jewels almost went missing had it not been for tintin..

Belgian artist Herge wrote 22 completed adventures for his cartoon hero Tintin, the young journalist. "The Castafiore Emerald" stands out from the lot as an unusual story. First, there is no exotic locale. The action takes place almost entirely in Captain Haddock's home of Marlinspike. Second, Herge never quite gets around to framing up a real adventure. Although there are some mysterious gypsies staying in the area and some objects including an emerald go missing, the police presence is strictly for laughs and we never quite get to a full-blown mystery. Third, although the story abounds in recurring characters such as Tintin's dog Snowy, Professor Calculus, the bumbling detectives Thompson and Thomson, and Madame de Castafiore, none of the series villains makes an appearance. Herge plays this one for laughs. A damaged main staircase at Marlinspike becomes a trap for every unwary passerby. Its most prominent victim is Captain Haddock, who sprains an ankle while trying to escape the impending visit of the formidable opera singer and diva Bianca Castafiore. Castafiore and her entourage descend on the trapped Captain Haddock, who promptly and hilariously becomes an object of tabloid speculation. His entrapment is made no easier by the brilliant and deaf Professor Calculus, who has a soft spot for Castafiore and who unwitting contributes to the speculation about Captain Haddock's impending marriage. Castafiore stages a tv interview and impromptu concert within Marlinspike, which event has its own humorous consequences. Tintin is kept busy sheparding vistors around and checking up on some mysterious events. The final explanation is quite tame, if funny. Herge's attention to detail in his superb plotting and artistry are on full display here, if focused in this instance on the misadventures of his characters. "The Castafiore Emerald" is very highly recommended to Tintin fans of all ages, who should find it a diverting change of pace as a Tintin story.

Later in his career Herg set himself of writing what amounts to a kind of anti-Tintin adventure, where nothing really happens to his cast of characters (there are no opium smuggling rings to smash nor any political coups to thwart), and yet everything happens all the same. THE CASTAFIORE EMERALD may in many ways be Herg's masterpiece, and it is unquestionably the funniest of all his tales, revolving as it does on the theme of miscommunication ("No, this is not Cutts the butcher!"). Naturally at the very heart of it is the Milanese Nightingale herself, Bianca Castafiore, the world's greatest opera star, who deigns to descend upon the only two people in the world who cannot bear to hear her sing, Tintin and Captain Hamhock (er, Haddock). In addition to La Castafiore comes her entourage (her accompaniest Wagner and her maid Irma), a gaggle of photographers, a suspicious band of gypsies, a television crew, and even a local brass band. Before the tale is done Dr. Calculus will experiment with roses and color television, Tintin will have a mystery or two to unravel, Captain Fatstock (er, Haddock) will explode with fury an untold number of times, and the divine Castafiore will be asked (as always) to sing, to Tintin and Captain Haddock's horror, her signature aria from "Faust." "Yes, it was the 'Jewel Song' from 'Faust' that swept me to the pinnacle of fame," the opera star modestly informs her television interviewer, "They say I'm divine..." And she is.

This is probably the least well known and appreciated of Tintin's adventures. Tintin and Captain Haddock receive a visit from the overbearing opera singer/diva Bianca Castafiore. Many humorous incidents ensue as Bianca is hounded by the press and ends up losing her fabulous emerald. The situation is complicated by the arrival of gypsies to Captain Haddock's home whose presence arises suspicion over the disappearance of Bianca's jewels. This is the only Tintin adventure where Tintin does not journey to distant lands for his adventures - the action is all sentenced around his home. As a result there is not the normal pace and excitment normally present in Tintin and perhaps this is why the book is not so popular with younger readers. However the story is still excellent in a more subtle way. Firstly the handling of the gypsies in the book is very sensitive and not prejudiced which is certainly not in keeping with the period in which the book was written. The gypsies are not depicted as a band of thieving rogues but a group of people abandoned by all sections of society. Herge plays very well on the inherent prejudices of the characters of the book very well throughout to give the gypsies a sympathetic representation. In this respect the book is excellent for young children since it will give them a broader view of the many peoples of the world. Secondly the subject of press intrusion is dealt with very well throughout the book. The visiting opera singer Bianca Castafiore is followed by journalists and her equivocal attitude to the press is hilarious - she embraces one magasine yet hates another simply because she didn't like one of the pictures of her which was published in it. Then of course there is the actual mystery of the emerald. Unlike other Tintin books the main theme seems to be fairly trifling and merely a source of continuity for the book. The reader is not engaged by the emerald's disappearance and in the end the thief turns out to be ..... (I won't spoil it). The illustrations in the book are particularly detailed and lush. This was Herge's ninteenth Tintin book and thus his style is established and refined as are his racial prejudices. In fact by now Herge was a champion of the anti-racism cause.The Castafiore Emerald is probably one of Herge's most mature works. Although there is a story, this is inconsequential when compared to the other racial and political issues and the rich characters. Because of this fact the book would probably not be so engaging for younger readers but would certainly be diverting for older children and indeed educational in many ways.

Once again, Herge had me giggling. Captain Haddock and Tintin have to suffer through Bianca Castafiore's visit to Marlinspike. Endless scales, a stolen diamond, and gypsies complicate everything. But the best thing of all is, it's actually plausible. I'm crazy about Tintin, all Tintin, and this book is the funniest.

Oh this is a big success!It is a very very funny book which must be definitely readen!I loved it! Bianka Kastafiore comes and drives Captain Haddock crazy.He tries to get rid of her.Oh yeah everyone must read it.KESINLIKLE BU KITABI OKUYUN.It's full of joy!