Customer Reviews

The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman

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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.

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.