Well, I finally finished the first 4 books of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy about a month ago, and I went on to another book I bought in England last year, namely:

It’s a great read for any Python fan (oh and if you aren’t a Monty Python fanatic, what’re you doing reading this blog?), reaching out from the first day of shooting for Monty Python’s Flying Circus, up until the Life of Brian days. The book shows the golden years of Python through Michael Palin’s eyes, and reading his notes on the first TV series, or about the reactions to the stage show, and observing Palin’s relations to the other Pythons is just awesome.

But that’s only one side of it - the book also gives an insight into Palin’s personal life, his relationship with his aging parents and his own new family and his view of the world surrounding him. He’s affected by the unjust acts and rough times in England and by the uninspired changes occurring around London*, yet tries to make the best of the life he’s been blessed with.

Palin seems to be among the most level-headed and talkative of the six Pythons, so it may come as no surprise that he was the one keeping a diary. He and Terry Jones had a strong relationship, both as friends and writers, and played a large part in keeping the group together and standing up for its interests. Thus, he’s present at most key events in the evolution of Monty Python, and we get to see what they were like.

I’m about one third into the book, and I wish it’d never end :) Palin concludes the introduction saying:

In the course of these diaries I grow up, my family grows up and Monty Python grows up. It was a great time to be alive.

- this feeling comes shining through, all throughout his diaries.

I just have to leave you with a Python bit, here’s a live version of the Dead Parrot sketch from ‘76, in which John Cleese manages to make Michael Palin crack up :) This is pure gold:

*I’m no expert on the subject, but this reminded me of Genesis‘ Selling England by the Pound, which in a way views the same troubles from a different perspective… and happens to be an all-time favourite album of mine, of course