In the early 195s, I published some humorous pictures in a Belgian weekly newspaper, and named them "Little Nicolas". In the Paris office of this magazine, I met Rene Goscinny. At that time, he was drawing comic books and writing short stories. He is six years older than me and has just returned from new york, which greatly surprised me. He wore a suit with two lapels folded and a tie neatly, and took out a delicate lighter from his pocket to give the ladies a light.
that evening, he invited me to dinner in a restaurant. He asked me, "Do you like sea urchins?" I said I didn't know what it was. He happily invited me to taste the sea urchin. In order not to owe him a favor, I asked him if he liked music after dinner. He said he liked it politely, but that's all. I invited him to my house to listen to two CDs. Of course, he thought I was joking. I invited him to the 18th district, climbed the 7-and-a-half-story building and reached my little servant room. Then I proudly took out my two CDs, one of which was Harwell's Peacock Dance, and the other jazz was carefully put in that rough record player. After a few bars, I asked him, "How much is a * * *?" "What did you say?" "How many musicians are playing?" He was a little surprised and answered me, "Seven." I burst out laughing: "You really don't know anything! 16 musicians: 5 saxophonists, 4 trombones, 4 trumpeters, pianists, bass players and drummers! " We didn't listen to Peacock Dance any more, and he must be afraid that I will ask questions about the composition of the band again.
we became friends.
He is polite, cautious and conservative, while I am a little enthusiastic. We both stutter a little. I often tell him interesting stories about my primary school days. I was a naughty boy when I was a child. I felt a little flattered when he laughed. He came from the New World.
three or four years later, a provincial newspaper offered us a contract. Goscinny writes words and I draw pictures. He brought an article with a story written by a child, Nicholas, telling the life of him and his companions. The names of these companions are all very strange: Lu Fei, Ya San, Mai Xing Xing, A Zhen, Ke Dou and so on, but the chief superintendent is called "Boiling Soup". Well, Rene knows how to write these stories.
Alex Grall of Denoel Publishing House, on the recommendation of his wife, read the illustrated story we published in the provincial newspaper.
But his first book, Little Nicholas, was not a great success.
At that time, there was an attractive practice in the publishing industry, that is, "the thirteenth book was free". Bookstores can receive the thirteenth book for every twelve books they buy from the publishing house.
Desnoe Publishing House is not enthusiastic about publishing the second episode of this book (Little Nicholas's Recess), but it reminds me that a bookstore often uses the method of "thirteenth free" to order books. Perhaps thanks to this bookstore, Little Nicholas has a second sequel.
later, there were three other films.
In this way, René often comes to my house in his navy blue pinstripe suit, and politely, smiling and without any lack of worry, he takes out an envelope from his pocket, which contains several carefully typed manuscripts. Then he said to me, "Do you think this is ok?"
Jean-Jacques Sang Bei