The Castafiore EmeraldThe Castafiore Emerald
Score Classic
What it's about
Tintin and Captain Haddock invite a Romani community they've met to come home with them, just as the famous opera singer Bianca Castafiore arrives to visit. Chaos follows at Marlinspike Hall, and then a precious emerald goes missing.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a comic mystery at Captain Haddock's country house.
You'll love it if you liked
Tintin in Tibet
The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Murder of Roger AckroydGood to know
It's a graphic album for all ages. You can read the Tintin books in any order.
By the numbers
- Readers54 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #149 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #646 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2033 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Georges Remi Herge
Tintin in TibetThe Crab with the Golden ClawsIf you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Hobbit
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
The Killer AngelsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Castafiore Emerald worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,033 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Castafiore Emerald about?
Tintin and Captain Haddock invite a Romani community they've met to come home with them, just as the famous opera singer Bianca Castafiore arrives to visit. Chaos follows at Marlinspike Hall, and then a precious emerald goes missing.
How long does it take to read The Castafiore Emerald?
About 2 hours (62 pages), or about 4 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Castafiore Emerald?
If you liked it, try Tintin in Tibet by Georges Remi Herge, The Crab with the Golden Claws by Georges Remi Herge or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.