Philippe Goddin
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Philippe Goddin | |
|---|---|
 Goddin in 2023 | |
| Born | 27 May 1944 Schaerbeek, Brussels region, Belgium |
| Died | 8 September 2025 (aged 81) Brussels, Brussels region, Belgium |
| Occupations | Author, literary critic |
| Known for | Literary critic of The Adventures of Tintin, General secretary of the Fondation Hergé from 1989 to 1999 |
Philippe Goddin (27 May 1944 – 8 September 2025) was a Belgian author who was a leading expert and literary critic of The Adventures of Tintin,[1][2] and author of several books on Tintin and his creator, Hergé. He was general secretary of the Fondation Hergé from 1989 to 1999.[3]
Goddin was born in Schaerbeek, Belgium, on 27 May 1944. He studied at the Saint-Luc Institute art school in Brussels and became an art teacher.[4][5][6]
Goddin wrote numerous books on Hergé, which include Hergé and Tintin, Reporters. He produced a biography, Hergé: lignes de vie.[3][7]
His masterwork is the seven-volume (totalling 3000 pages) Hergé - Chronologie d'une oeuvre (Hergé - Chronology of his work), which Belgian magazine La Libre called "Magnificent. Monumental. Unique in its kind." ("Magnifique. Monumental. Unique en son genre.")[8]
His study of Tintin was published in English in 3 volumes as The Art of Hergé, Inventor of Tintin; Volume 1 was criticized by Publishers Weekly for being content to retell plots rather than providing critical analysis.[9] It was also published in Dutch as De Kunst van Hergé, schepper van Kuifje; Belgian newspaper De Standaard reviewed volume 2, awarding it 4/5 stars.[10]
He also helped to keep the television series The Adventures of Tintin more true to the books.[citation needed]
Goddin died in Brussels on 8 September 2025, at the age of 81.[6][11]
