The Grand Duke by René Goscinny

Why read the book?

Grand Duke Leonid of Russia arrives in America before signing an important treaty and, fed on tales of the frontier, insists on tasting real Western danger: bandits, ambushes and Indian attacks. Lucky Luke is saddled with the job of bodyguard to this demanding and naive royal.

Trailing them is a Russian anarchist determined to assassinate the duke, so Luke must protect a man who keeps walking straight into peril for the thrill of it. The chase runs across the West from Abilene onward, with the duke's interpreter in tow and Jolly Jumper carrying Luke through every scrape.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

The clash between the eager, pampered duke and the patient Luke is a fine comic engine, and the assassin plot keeps a real edge under the jokes. Goscinny has fun with the visitor's romantic ideas of the Wild West.

The story, loosely drawn from a real grand duke's American tour, gives the gags a pleasant grounding in history.

Key Takeaway

A royal thrill-seeker turns bodyguard duty into Luke's most exasperating job.

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