Michael Palin Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] (Audio CD)

by Michael Palin (Author, Reader)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'Palin's calm manner and writing style, as ever, make the journey an exceptional one.' -- Natalie Bushe THE HERALD 'As you would expect from this most engaging of writers and broadcasters, the diaries are funny, honest and perceptive. Even better, the audio version is read by Palin himself.' -- Simon Evans PARK & HOLIDAY HOMES Read by the author, these memoirs of the PYTHON years are riveting... Palin brings to bear an affectionate but accurate eye. We experience the insecurities of John Cleese, Graham Chapman's drunken grandeur, the pleasure of George Harrison's company, the obstinacy of Woody Allen, and the wackiness of Shelley Duvall, along with glimpses of Palin's family joys and sadnesses.' -- Betty Tadman THE SCOTSMAN '3 out of 4 stars' -- Stefaan Werbrouck FOCUS KNACK 'There's something about Michael Palin's voice which is perfect for audiobooks... a fascinating account of the Monty Python years from the inside... the time just flies by... Fabulous stuff from Gospel Oak's most popular globetrotter.' -- David Crozier HAM & HIGH

Product Description
Michael Palin has kept a diary since newly married in the late 1960s, when he was beginning to make a name for himself as a TV scriptwriter (for David Frost, the Two Ronnies, etc). But Monty Python was just around the corner. In this first volume of his diaries he tells for the first time how Python emerged and triumphed. Perceptive and funny, it chronicles not only his struggle to find a niche in the world of television comedy, but also the extraordinary goings on of the many powerful personalities who coalesced to form the Monty Python team.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ); Abridged edition edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752875612
• ISBN-13: 978-0752875613
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,460,399 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This page is for the audio CD, is it not?, January 5, 2009

By	M. Geiger "mtpalms" (SoCal) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I checked the reviews on the printed book's page, and they are almost unanimously glowing. I come here to check out the audio version, mainly to see if it is read by Palin himself, and I see 2 poor reviews about - the book? The good thing I guess is that if you aren't observant enough to know you are reviewing a printed book on an Audio CD page, then your review is probably not worth taking very seriously either.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant for Python fans, May 14, 2009

By	C. R. Wood "marinesci" (NY, NJ, PA, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Python fans obtain insight into the formation and journey of the group through the 70's, as well as the progress of MP's career and matters of family during this same period. I found it very interesting; remarks about MP "sticking to his day job" appear to have been written by people looking for the history of Python, not the history of one of the group's most prolific contributors and the man that most would agree shouldered a heavier part of the load than his fellow Pythons. I went through the Diaries in about three weeks; will probably go through them again in a few months' time as they are enjoyable light reading.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pallid Palin, November 27, 2006

By	Joel Canfield (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must agree with the other review posted so far - this is a huge and boring book. I was very excited when I saw it in the bookstore, bought it on impulse, and began to read it only to find that, yes, I was finding out way too much about what Michael had for dinner that day. Also way too many observations about weather and English towns and English politics and the Palin family. The Python stuff is described so matter-of-factly that there seems to be no joy of discovery in creating the groundbreaking material that still stands as the comedy gold standard today. Perhaps that was the way it was when the Python group did the work. If the rest of the book had some resonance beyond Python, that would still make it worthwhile as a published volume. But it doesn't and it really isn't. Michael is a huge talent whose great gifts are revealed in his comedy work, not in these monotone - but well-worded! - ramblings.