The Pythons: Autobiography by the Pythons

by Graham Chapman

Hardcover, 2003

Status

Available

Call number

PN2599.T54 P95

Series

Monty Python (autobiography)

Genres

Publication

Thomas Dunne Books (2003), Edition: 1, 368 pages

Description

For the first time all surviving Pythons have agreed to create the definitive story of Monty Python's Flying Circus and the 'genius' who created it. Over thirty years ago, a group of five Englishmen - and one wayward American - rewrote the rules of comedy. Monty Python's Flying Circus, an unheralded, previously unseen half-hour show of sketches, hilarities, inanities and animations, first appeared on the BBC late one night in 1969. Its impact has been felt on the world ever since. From its humble beginnings, it blossomed into the most influential movement in modern comedy. THE PYTHONS' AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE PYTHONS is a unique look at arguably the most important comic team of the modern age, lavishly illustrated with 1000 photographs, many culled from the team's own personal collections, many more seen for the first time. This is the definitive word on all things Pythonesque.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member wonderlanded

I thought, after all the interviews and directors' commentaries, that this one might be a bit old hat. Instead, it's frank and interesting. The relationship between Cleese and the others is very tense, and the simmering resentments are still evident.

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LibraryThing member Crowyhead

This is sort of like "The Python Anthology." The remaining members of Monty Python, as well as Graham Chapman's brother, sister-in-law, and longtime partner David Sherlock, tell the history of Monty Python in their own words. There are a lot of contradictions; no one can seem to remember who

actually picked "The Liberty Bell March" as the theme, for example, and some things have become so legendary that one gets the feeling that everyone is telling the version that makes the best story (case in point: everyone loves to tell the story that Graham Chapman invited his fiancee to the party where he announced he was gay, but according to David Sherlock, she wasn't actually his fiancee anymore at that point. What's true? Who knows.) You get to learn a lot about their personalities and their working relationships, which is always interesting, even if it means finding out that John Cleese is kind of a git. Good stuff for fans of Monty Python, probably utterly boring for anyone else (although there's lots of great pictures of Terry Gilliam's cartoon work).

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LibraryThing member the_abbeys

Awesome book chronicling the comedy genuises Monty Python. You'll find tons of info on each Python, from when they were born to how they grew up and eventually formed Monty Python and became the legends that they are. The book also tells you of how the four seasons of Python went, who was

responsible for what, how they went on to make four cult films, and beyond. It's a pity it doesn't touch more on each one's individual achievements after Python but as a book on MPFC and nothing but, this is the definitive thing. A must read (and own) for every Python fan.

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