Michael Palin Popular Books

Michael Palin Biography & Facts

Sir Michael Edward Palin ( PAY-lin; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. He received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2013 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.Palin started in television working on programmes including the Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report, and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin joined Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. He acted in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "Argument Clinic", "Dead Parrot sketch", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition", "Bicycle Repair Man" and "The Fish-Slapping Dance". Palin continued to work with Jones away from Python, co-writing Ripping Yarns.Palin co-wrote and starred in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). For his performance in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) he received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Other notable films include Jabberwocky (1977), Time Bandits (1981), The Missionary (1982), A Private Function (1984), Brazil (1985), Fierce Creatures (1997), and The Death of Stalin (2017). Since 1980, Palin has made numerous television travel documentaries and is a widely recognised writer and presenter. He has acted as a travel writer and travel documentarian in programmes broadcast on the BBC. His journeys have taken him across the world, including the North and South Poles, the Sahara, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe, and Brazil; in 2018, he visited North Korea, documenting his visit to the isolated country in a series broadcast on Channel 5. From 2009 to 2012 he was President of the Royal Geographical Society. Early life and education Palin was born in Ranmoor, Sheffield, the second child and only son of Edward Moreton Palin (1900–1977) and Mary Rachel Lockhart (née Ovey; 1903–1990). His father was a Shrewsbury and Cambridge-educated engineer working for a steel firm. His maternal grandfather, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Lockhart Ovey, DSO, was High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1927.Palin was educated at Birkdale and Shrewsbury School. His sister Angela was nine years his senior; despite the age gap the two had a close relationship until her suicide in 1987. Palin is of English and Irish Catholic heritage; he has ancestral roots in Letterkenny, County Donegal. His great-grandmother fled the Irish Famine and was adopted by a wealthy English family.When he was five years old, Palin had his first acting experience at Birkdale playing Martha Cratchit in a school performance of A Christmas Carol. At the age of 10, Palin, still interested in acting, made a comedy monologue and read a Shakespeare play to his mother while playing all the parts. After leaving Shrewsbury in 1962, he went on to read modern history at Brasenose College, Oxford. With fellow student Robert Hewison he performed and wrote, for the first time, comedy material at a university Christmas party. Terry Jones, also a student at Oxford, saw that performance and began writing with Hewison and Palin. That year Palin joined the Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society Players and first gained fame when he won an acting award at a Co-op drama festival. He also performed and wrote in the Oxford Revue (called the Et ceteras) with Jones. Career Early career After finishing university in 1965, Palin became a presenter on a comedy pop show called Now! for the television contractor Television Wales and the West. At the same time, Palin was contacted by Jones, who had left university a year earlier, to help with writing a theatrical documentary about sex through the ages. Although this project was eventually abandoned, it brought Palin and Jones together as a writing duo and led them to write comedy for various BBC programmes, such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Billy Cotton Bandshow, and The Illustrated Weekly Hudd. They collaborated in writing lyrics for an album by Barry Booth called Diversions. They were also in the team of writers working for The Frost Report, whose other members included Frank Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Dick Vosburgh and future Monty Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Eric Idle.Although the members of Monty Python had already encountered each other over the years, The Frost Report was the first time all the British members of Monty Python (its sixth member, Terry Gilliam, was at that time an American citizen) worked together. During the run of The Frost Report the Palin/Jones team contributed material to two shows starring John Bird: The Late Show and A Series of Birds. For A Series of Birds the Palin/Jones team had their first experience of writing narrative instead of the short sketches they were accustomed to conceiving.Following The Frost Report the Palin/Jones team worked both as actors and writers on the show Twice a Fortnight with Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Jonathan Lynn, and the successful children's comedy show Do Not Adjust Your Set with Idle and David Jason. The show also featured musical numbers by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, including future Monty Python musical collaborator Neil Innes. The animations for Do Not Adjust Your Set were made by Terry Gilliam. Eager to work with Palin sans Jones, Cleese later asked him to perform in How to Irritate People together with Chapman and Tim Brooke-Taylor. The Palin/Jones team were reunited for The Complete and Utter History of Britain. Monty Python On the strength of their work on The Frost Report and other programmes, Cleese and Chapman had been offered a show by the BBC, but Cleese was reluctant to do a two-man show for various reasons, among them Chapman's reputedly difficult personality. During this period Cleese contacted Palin about doing the show that ultimately became Monty Python's Flying Circus. At the same time the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set had led Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam to be offered their own series and, while it was still in production, Palin agreed to Cleese's proposal and brought along Idle, Jones and Gilliam. Thus the formation of the Monty Python troupe has been referred to as a result of Cleese's desire to work with Palin and the chance circumstances that brought the other four members into the fold.Palin played various roles in Monty Python, which ranged from manic enthusiasm (such as the lumberjack of "The Lumberjack Song", or Herbert Anchovy, host of the game show "Blackmail") to unflappable calmness (such as the Dead parrot vendor or Cheese Shop proprietor). As a straight man he was often a foil to the rising ire of characters portrayed by Cleese. He also played timid, socially inept characters such as Arthur Putey, the man who sits quietly as a marriage counsellor (Eric Idle) makes love to his wife (Carol Cleveland), and Mr Anchovy, a chartered accountant who wants to become a lion tamer. He appeared as the "It's" man (a Robinso.... Discover the Michael Palin popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Michael Palin books.

Best Seller Michael Palin Books of 2024

  • Puckoon synopsis, comments

    Puckoon

    Spike Milligan

    DISCOVER PUCKOON, SPIKE MILLIGAN'S CLASSIC SLAPSTICK NOVEL 'Pops with the erratic brilliance of a careless match in a box of fireworks' Daily MailIn 1924 the Boundary Commission is...

  • Thanks For Nothing synopsis, comments

    Thanks For Nothing

    Jack Dee

    Comedian Jack Dee's hilarious account of how he became quite such a miserable git and a stand up comedian.'A brilliant book. So funny. It's my bible' Paul O'GradyIn this hilariousl...

  • New Europe synopsis, comments

    New Europe

    Michael Palin

    No. 1 bestseller and superstar doing what he does best, introducing millions of avid readers to littleknown peoples and places.Until the early 1990s, when the Berlin Wall came tumb...

  • The Story of England synopsis, comments

    The Story of England

    Michael Wood

    A VILLAGE AND ITS PEOPLE THROUGH THE WHOLE OF ENGLISH HISTORYThe village of Kibworth in Leicestershire lies at the very centre of England. It has a church, some pubs, the Grand Uni...

  • So, Anyway... synopsis, comments

    So, Anyway...

    John Cleese

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  “John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its authorsmart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny. . . . A pictur...

  • A New Voyage Round the World synopsis, comments

    A New Voyage Round the World

    William Dampier & Nicholas Thomas

    'A roaring tale ... remains as vivid and exciting today as it was on publication in 1697' GuardianThe pirate and adventurer William Dampier circumnavigated the globe three times, a...

  • Monty synopsis, comments

    Monty

    Spike Milligan

    VOLUME THREE OF SPIKE MILLIGAN'S LEGENDARY MEMOIRS IS A HILARIOUS, SUBVERSIVE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF WW2'The most irreverent, hilarious book about the war that I have ever read' Sund...

  • The Congo and the Cameroons synopsis, comments

    The Congo and the Cameroons

    Mary Kingsley

    Contemptuous of Europe's 'civilising mission' in Africa, Mary Kingsley's (18621900) extraordinary journeys through tropical west Africa are a remarkable record, both of a world whi...

  • Touching Greatness synopsis, comments

    Touching Greatness

    Dermot Gilleece

    Tales of golfing stars and memorable moments from Ireland's bestloved golf correspondent.In almost thirty years as Ireland's leading golf journalist, Dermot Gilleece has met and in...

  • Behind Closed Doors synopsis, comments

    Behind Closed Doors

    Gary Lineker & Danny Baker

    Includes a new foreword by Gary Lineker about football in lockdownShortlisted for The Telegraph Sports Book Awards'Lineker is nearly as good a presenter as I was a footballer' DIEG...

  • Monty Python synopsis, comments

    Monty Python

    Richard Topping

    Have you ever wanted to be a lumberjack? Had trouble with a dead parrot? Or gone for a silly walk?Combining outrageous humour, unbridled creativity and surreal animation, John Clee...

  • Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio synopsis, comments

    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

    Pu Songling

    The Strange Tales of Pu Songling (16401715) are exquisite and amusing miniatures that are regarded as the pinnacle of classical Chinese fiction. With their elegant prose, witty wor...

  • Horseshoes And Holy Water synopsis, comments

    Horseshoes And Holy Water

    Mefo Phillips

    The lure of a longdistance ride leads Mefo Phillips to team up with her sister Susie and their spotted Appaloosa horses Leo, a flirt with a passion for Mars Bars, and affectionate,...

  • Another Fine Mess synopsis, comments

    Another Fine Mess

    Tim Moore

    Tim Moore indefatigable travelling everyman – switches two wheels for four as he journeys across Trumpland in an original Model T Ford.‘Alarmingly full of incident, very funny – e...

  • Antarctic Atlas synopsis, comments

    Antarctic Atlas

    Peter Fretwell

    A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020SHORTLISTED FOR THE ESTWA AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATED TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022One of the leastknown places on the planet, the only continent on...

  • Brad and Angelina synopsis, comments

    Brad and Angelina

    Chas Newkey-Burden

    Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are the bestknown and most talkedabout couple in the world. When they got together in 2005 it made headlines worldwide everyone wanted to know the ful...

  • North Korea Journal synopsis, comments

    North Korea Journal

    Michael Palin

    In this beautifully illustrated journal based on a TV documentary, writer, comedian and world traveller Michael Palin journeys to North Korea, offering a glimpse of life inside the...

  • Monty Python Speaks synopsis, comments

    Monty Python Speaks

    David Morgan

    With a Foreword by John Oliver, host of Last Week TonightIn celebration of the 50th anniversary of its BBC debut, a revised and updated edition of the complete oral history of Mont...

  • The World of Vanity Fair synopsis, comments

    The World of Vanity Fair

    Emma Marriott & Michael Palin

    THE OFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE ITV SERIESWilliam Thackeray's Vanity Fair was first published in the 1840s, but its power to entertain and provoke debate remains as strong as ever. T...

  • Rambling Man synopsis, comments

    Rambling Man

    Billy Connolly

    The hilarious new book from the nation's favourite comedian, Billy Connolly. Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the ...

  • Stark synopsis, comments

    Stark

    Ben Elton

    Stark is a secret consortium with more money than God, and the social conscience of a dog on a croquet lawn. What's more, it knows the Earth is dying.Deep in Western Australia wher...

  • Vanity Fair synopsis, comments

    Vanity Fair

    William Makepeace Thackeray

    'I think I could be a good woman if I had five thousand a year' Becky Sharp is a poor orphan when she first makes friends with the lovely Amelia Sedley at Miss Pinkerton's Academy ...

  • Peace Work synopsis, comments

    Peace Work

    Spike Milligan

    Spike Milligan's legendary war memoirs are a hilarious and subversive firsthand account of the Second World War, as well as a fascinating portrait of the formative years of this to...

  • Pole To Pole synopsis, comments

    Pole To Pole

    Michael Palin

    No.1 bestseller Michael Palin's epic journey from the North Pole to the South Pole.'The cracked and fissured icepack offers no comfortable reassurance no glimmer of any reward to ...

  • Het nieuwe Europa van Michael Palin synopsis, comments

    Het nieuwe Europa van Michael Palin

    Michael Palin

    Michael Palin maakte al een Reis rond de wereld in 80 dagen, reisde Van pool tot pool, De cirkel rond, In het spoor van Hemingway, door de Sahara en over de Himalaya. Dit keer blij...

  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life synopsis, comments

    Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

    Eric Idle

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  From the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot (returning to Broadway in Fall 2023!), comes an absurdl...

  • Mirror To Damascus synopsis, comments

    Mirror To Damascus

    Colin Thubron

    A 50th anniversary edition of Colin Thubron's celebrated first book, a portrait of Syria's capital city, with a new introduction by the author.Described by the author as simply 'a ...

  • Goodbye Soldier synopsis, comments

    Goodbye Soldier

    Spike Milligan

    Spike Milligan's legendary war memoirs are a hilarious and subversive firsthand account of the Second World War, as well as a fascinating portrait of the formative years of this to...

  • Himalaya synopsis, comments

    Himalaya

    Michael Palin

    Michael Palin tackles the full length of the Himalaya in this terrific number one bestseller.Having risen to the challenge of seas, poles, dhows and deserts, the highest mountains ...

  • Butterfly Brain synopsis, comments

    Butterfly Brain

    Barry Cryer

    Barry Cryer is one of the great comedians of the last 50 years. This is a sparkling series of hilarious and true anecdotes, almost all of which have never been told before!Barry Cr...

  • Icons of England synopsis, comments

    Icons of England

    Bill Bryson

    This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of...

  • Brazilian Food synopsis, comments

    Brazilian Food

    Thiago Castanho & Luciana Bianchi

    Brazil is a vast country with a cornucopia of fabulous ingredients and a wealth of ethnic culinary influences; the result is one of the most exciting cuisines in the world. In this...

  • The Bible According to Spike Milligan synopsis, comments

    The Bible According to Spike Milligan

    Spike Milligan

    Spike Milligan's legendary war memoirs are a hilarious and subversive firsthand account of the Second World War, as well as a fascinating portrait of the formative years of this to...

  • Full Circle synopsis, comments

    Full Circle

    Michael Palin

    Michael Palin's terrific account of his journey through 18 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, published by Phoenix for the first time.For almost a year, Michael Palin travelled...

  • Monty Python Speaks, Revised and Updated Edition synopsis, comments

    Monty Python Speaks, Revised and Updated Edition

    David Morgan

    With a Foreword by John Oliver, host of Last Week TonightIn celebration of the 50th anniversary of its BBC debut, a revised and updated edition of the complete oral history of Mont...

  • High Hopes synopsis, comments

    High Hopes

    Ronnie Corbett

    A true great of British comedy, Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Corbett, is hailed as one of the finest comedians of his generation.Son of an Edinburgh baker, Ronnie rose to fame as one half of th...

  • Halfway To Hollywood synopsis, comments

    Halfway To Hollywood

    Michael Palin

    Michael Palin's bestselling diaries of the 1980s.After a live performance at the Hollywood Bowl, The Pythons made their last performance together in 1983 in the hugely successful M...

  • An Englishman Aboard synopsis, comments

    An Englishman Aboard

    Charles Timoney

    From the author of Pardon My French and A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, this is the charming and hilariously funny story of one man's attempt to travel the entire length of the Seine by...

  • Around The World In Eighty Days synopsis, comments

    Around The World In Eighty Days

    Michael Palin

    'The pace of this kind of travel has not much changed since Fogg set out in 1872. Trains may be a little faster, but there are certainly no highspeed rail links yet across India, C...

  • The Dogs that Made Australia synopsis, comments

    The Dogs that Made Australia

    Guy Hull

    Hunter. Worker. Legend. The untold story of the dog's role in building a nation.The Dogs That Made Australia pays tribute to the dogs that gave their all for our prosperity: the fe...

  • Winkle synopsis, comments

    Winkle

    Paul Beaver

    Discover the daring life story and astonishing adventures of Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown Britain's greatestever pilotSmall in stature but immense in reputation and talent, there w...

  • Pillow Talk synopsis, comments

    Pillow Talk

    Roger McGough

    Wouldn't it be funny if you didn't have a nose? The brilliant and clever Roger McGough asks this and other important questions in this marvellous collection. He also tells you exac...