A publicity biography of Michael Palin, written by John Cleese, is included in the introduction for (Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years):

“Michael Palin is not just one of Britain’s foremost comedy character actors…he also talks a lot.

Michael chats, quips, fantasises, reminisces, commiserates, encourages, plans, discusses, and elaborates. Then, some nights, when everyone else has gone to bed, he goes home and writes up a diary.”

You can almost hear Cleese’s signature tone of ire in your head as you read that last line. But it sums up this collection of Michael Palin’s diaries from Monty Python’s definitive years perfectly. At 673 pages (not counting the index), this hefty tome takes you deep inside Palin’s head during a period of almost exhaustive creative output, constant travel, financial wranglings, headbutting within the Python camp, and ultimately, great success.
Continue reading →