The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman [Hardcover]

Bob McCabe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Graham Chapman was the quiet, pipe-smoking Python who qualified as a doctor—the policeman's son whose tweedy demeanor belied an anarchic nature. More than any other Python, he lived the complete lunacy of the show. He was John Cleese's writing partner, from their days at Cambridge right through the Monty Python years. It was Chapman's off-screen antics, however, that epitomized the surreal qualities of a Python sketch; moreover, he fearlessly flaunted his homosexuality at a time when it was certainly not done. Chapman died in 1989, with brilliant comic timing—on the 20th anniversary of the first Python recording. Written with the full authorization of Chapman's family, and with extensive input from The Pythons, this is an honest, often hilarious tribute to a true original.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thorough and balanced profile."  —Library Journal

About the Author

Bob McCabe broadcasts on film for Radio 1 and is associate editor of Film Guide. He contributes to Empire and Q magazines and has also contributed to Evening Standard, Daily Mirror and Daily Express, and was film editor of Vox. He is the author of The Pythons by The Pythons and numerous other books, most recently the authorised biography of Ronnie Barker.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752857738
• ISBN-13: 978-0752857732
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,853,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story, just not well written, November 16, 2007

By 

D. L. Couldwell "Englishman in New York" (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman (Paperback)

I found this book interesting as I did not know may of the details behind his life or the story behind the pythons but I did find the style quite distracting. The author uses a lot of direct quotes from other people which sometimes go on for pages. It was also difficult to follow sometimes who the quotes were from. Graham Chapman's life story is interesting with lots more to it than just Monty Python but may be covered in a better style elsewhere.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Like Python, pretty hit and miss, May 6, 2007

By 

John M. Thomas (Danville, Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman (Paperback)

Growing up watching Pythonon PBS in the '70's, I became a big fan of their irreverent British humor, although even as a teen I saw som esketches that missed the mark or just didn't congeal fully. When Python was on, there was no other troup before or since who could touch them. At the same time, some sketches deserved the very proper appearance of Gram Chapman to halt the proceedings with the admonition that the skit was just plain silly.

The same holds true for this bio of Monty Python's resident surgeon and star of both of their greatest films, Holy Grail and Life of Brian. When the story grabs hold or explores some aspects of Gram Chapman's remarkable life, it is compelling reading. At other times, the book skips over great chunks and becomes repetitious, almost as if the author was spinning his wheels and waiting for inspiration. Unfortunately, the book reads almost as a work in progress or an incomplete biography.

The differences between the public Python and the private lives of its members can be quite astounding - Cleese as the lawyer, Chapman's work as a surgeon and semi-activist, but those inside glimpses still left me wanting more. The remembrances of Chapman's brother and co-workers, as well as his long-time lover, brought a better understanding of the incredibly complex person that was Brian, Arthur, and ultimately Graham.

A better bet is Python by the Pythons, also edited largely by this author, which offers greater depth on all the members of Monty Python (of course) and still covers the biggest portion of what is found in this book. I'd recommend it but not too highly.