PYTHON YEARS: Diaries 1969-1979 Volume One

The first of a trilogy of Michael Palin's diaries which are funny, warm and moving from the man at the centre of one of the world's most influential comedy troupes. 'I sit around, half-naked, made up as an Ex-Leper. I've even been evicted from my caravan, which is being used as a make-up base for extra lepers.' This engaging volume is a window into the world of Monty Python, from the group's early cult success, to the global superstardom that followed. Amongst tales from the making of 'The Holy Grail' and 'The Life of Brian' are stories of the three-day week and the various trials of a peripatetic life. The diaries begin when Michael was a newly married struggling to make a name for himself in the world of television comedy, but Monty Python was just around the corner. 'Palin's steady eye, contemplative bent and instinct for honest appraisal make him the perfect chronicler of a frequently insane period which saw the Monty Python team become the most celebrated comedians in the world.' - Time Out. There are school sports days, lunches with friends, with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live in 1978 and with his wife Helen and their children either at home in Gospel Oak or filming or travelling. Beautifully paced and written and often very, very funny. 'To Great Titchfield Street to meet Warren Mitchell and read through my part with him. A tough little guy - close cropped hair, a tight, intense way of talking...but busy and extrovert in his command of a conversation.' This was at the Jabberwocky office in London. Drinks with his great friend Terry Jones, lots of gossip, touring and characters like Viv Stanshall coming round for a meeting, you would just love to have been there. 24 pages of colour and archive photos, a chunky 721 page softback.