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Michael Farr is the author of the essential reference for every Tintinophile: Tintin: The Complete Compendium. Whereas that hardcover book contains all the details of the fictional characters that grace the successful series of Tintin adventures, The Adventures of Herge focuses on the Belgian creator of Tintin.

Georges Remi was born in 1907 and had devised his pen name Hergé in 1924. That name was made up of his initials in reverse, pronounced in French. At the start of 1929, Tintin and his faithful companion Snowy saw the light of day in the publication Le Vingtiéme Siécle and gained instant popularity.

Farr provides excellent background information on the origins and inspirations of Tintin and gang. The main character was largely modelled after his brother Paul. Paul had to endure many jokes about his hairstyle, so much so that he eventually shaved most of his hair off. Ever the joker, Hergé duplicated Paul‘s look for the character Sponzs in The Calculus Affair. Milou (Snowy) was named for Hergé’s first girlfriend and his father and brother, identical twins, became the template for the bungling detectives Thomson and Thompson.

Various influences shaped the adventures of Tintin. Among them, Hergé’s love for scouting, his fascination with various artists of his period and a lifelong friendship with the Chinese Chang. Like Hitchcock, he managed to surreptitiously insert himself into the world of Tintin on various occasions.

Two years before his death of a leukemia-related illness in 1983, Hergé had an emotional reunion with Chang in Brussels. Upon his death, it had been his express instruction that no further Tintin adventures should be created.

The reference book by Farr is excellent, providing a great deal of detail and many photographs and reproductions from the Studios Hergé. If you’re a fan of Tintin, you’ll certainly gain a lot from this detailed companion volume.