Tintin Forums

I was wondering whether someone could help me identify a book that I read quite a number of years ago about the way in which Hergé created, drew and structured the Tintin books.
It was a fascinating read but I don't recognize it amongst the various books of that sort that I have seen on the internet. The one clear recollection I have is that the book showed the way in which the artist drew similar, large, set piece drawings a certain distance from the start and end of the book. Apologies but I don't think I can provide any further information! Not much to go on really.
Does anyone here recognize such a description? I looked through The Complete Companion, which had a similar feel, but I don't think that is the one I am after.
I am now rambling, so I shall stop.
Thanks,
Simon

Could it have been "Cinquante ans de travaux fort gais" (French for "Fifty Years of Very Cheerful Work")?

In it, Herge outlined how he would plan his work in a rough way and go step-by-step to the final published page. As an example, it showed the various stages of planning a page which was part of "Tintin and the Picaros" (but was not published in the final book).

You can see the cover here.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I have a feeling that this isn't the one. The book I remember was in English, and I can't find a translated version of the one you suggest.

I have a feeling that the book was published by the same company (and in the same format) as the one that produces the "proper" BDs. I would have seen it in the late 80's or early 90's and it would have been maybe 150 pages?

I remember (perhaps erroneously) that the cover was gold - a bit like Alph-Art - but with a white circle in the middle of the page. Sadly, I don't have much else to offer!
Thanks again for your help.
Simon

Whatever you're remembering sounds like a great book, Ludo/Simon. The only books I can think of that were in English and had the same format and publisher as the regular Tintin books and were around 150 pages long are the "Making of Tintin" books, a repackaging of of the double-album stories with a sort of illustrated essay at the start of each one about the background, research and process behind the books.

Here is one of them advertised on Amazon (from second-hand dealers) which doesn't quite match your description of a gold cover with a white circle, but isn't a million miles off!

And the cover look a bit less yellow and a bit more gold in this online listing.

I think you may be on to something with the Making of Tintin books - I notice that there are a few of them.
I think I need to see if I can find a copy somewhere.
One other question I have is whether there was ever an abridged compilation of these volumes, a Super Making Of Tintin book?
An interesting thought, but I can't see it anywhere in my wanderings through Google.
Thanks again for you suggestions.
S.

Aside from the cover circle it sounds like Tintin and the World of Hergé by Benoit Peeters, UK version published by Methuen, cover dark blue; US version here, published by Little Brown, cover is gold (well orange really). 161 pages.