  asterix the gaul is the first volume of the asterix comic strip series, by renÃ© goscinny (stories) and albert uderzo (illustrations). in le monde's 100 books of the century, a 1999 poll conducted by the french retailer fnac and the paris newspaper le monde, asterix the gaul was listed as the 23rd greatest book of the 20th century. ==plot summary== all gaul is under roman control, except for one small village of indomitable gauls that still holds out against the romans. centurion crismus bonus, head of the roman garrison at the fortified camp of compendium is very keen on discovering the secret of the gauls' superhuman strength after four soldiers are knocked out by one man, and sends a spy disguised as a gaul into the village. the roman's identity is revealed when he loses his false moustache, but not before he discovers the existence of the magic potion brewed by the druid getafix. he also manages to drink the potion after pretending he needs it to get back home as he claims the romans think he is a spy, and reports his discovery back to the centurion. crismus bonus believes that with this potion, he could overthrow julius caesar, and become emperor himself. so, he and his second-in-command marcus ginandtonicus have getafix captured using a pit in order to get the recipe. he is tortured by having a feather tickle his feet for hours, but does not give in. asterix learns of getafix's capture from a local man, and manages to sneak into the roman camp where getafix is being held captive in the man's cart after telling him compendium has a second-hand cart stall on. he hears crismus and ginandtonicus planning to overthrow caesar using the magic potion. asterix finds getafix and they concoct a scheme to trouble the romans. getafix pretends to agree to the centurion's ultimatum of making the potion when asterix pretends to give in to torture, despite the torture not actually having started yet, and demands an unseasonal ingredient, strawberries. while crismus bonus' soldiers try to find strawberries, asterix and getafix lounge around in comparative luxury, enjoying themselves at the romans' expense. when the strawberries are 
1961_books Asterix_books Comics_by_Albert_Uderzo Literature_first_published_in_serial_form Works_by_RenA(c)_Goscinny Works_originally_published_in_Pilote