Emperor Smith by René Goscinny

Why read the book?

Smith is a popular and harmless eccentric who pays former cowhands handsomely to dress up and parade as his imperial guard, work far easier than chasing cattle. Everyone humours him until a schemer called Buck Ritchie overhears Luke reporting that the Emperor owns the largest army and arsenal for hundreds of miles.

Ritchie goads Smith into showing off his might, and the comedy turns serious, since taking up arms against the Union counts as treason. Luke spends the rest of the album trying to keep the whole town off the gallows, eventually infiltrating a grand ball to kidnap the Emperor.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

The premise, loosely drawn from the real Emperor Norton of San Francisco, is gloriously daft and Goscinny milks it well.

Smith's pomp and his costumed cowboy guard are a delight, and the slide from harmless fantasy towards a treason charge gives the laughs real stakes.

Key Takeaway

A foolish man is harmless until somebody clever decides to use him.

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