French author presents comic book featuring Kazakh traditions and culture

NUR-SULTAN – French engineer Jacques Ortet presented the comic book “Les aventures de Jak et Bil au Kazakhstan: Le trésor de Gengis Khan (The Adventures of Jacques and Bil in Kazakhstan: the Treasures of Genghis Khan)” in Brussels May 19 at a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador in Belgium Aigul Kuspan.

Photo credit: time.kz.

The adventures of photographer Jacques and his talking bird Bil reflect Ortet’s view of Kazakh history, culture, traditions and customs. Together with guide Dinara, they find a mysterious 13th-century manuscript and seek the treasures of Genghis Khan.

“Adventure stories have always been my passion. It became the starting point for the creation of this book. I lived for four years in Kazakhstan, which I loved very much. There is something fabulous and alive in your nomadic history and, of course, I could not help telling you about Kazakh hospitality. The history of the book and its characters are completely fictional and any similarities with reality are just coincidences. The book has a female character. I really wanted this heroine to turn out to be a charming and clever [person], like all Kazakh women. Many of my friends, after reading the book, want to go to Kazakhstan. And why not? It’s definitely a place worth visiting,” said Ortet.

Photo credit: time.kz.

The book was published last year in Belgium, the homeland of comic books, as well as Canada, France and Switzerland.

The comic was presented in the Kazakh capital in late April and will soon be offered in a number of cities such as Almaty and Oskemen. It is currently available in Russian and French and Ortet plans to translate the adventure into English and Kazakh.

 


Get The Astana Times stories sent directly to you! Sign up via the website or subscribe to our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and Tiktok!