Candid and brilliantly funny, this is the story of how a tall, shy youth from Weston-super-Mare went on to become a self-confessed legend. En route, John Cleese describes his nerve-racking first public appearance, at St Peter's Preparatory School at the age of eight and five-sixths; his endlessly peripatetic home life with parents who seemed incapable of staying in any house for longer than six months; his first experiences in the world of work as a teacher who knew nothing about the subjects he was expected to teach; his hamster-owning days at Cambridge; and his first encounter with the man who would be his writing partner for over two decades, Graham Chapman. And so on to his dizzying ascent via scriptwriting for Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman and others to the heights of Monty Python.
RRP $37.99
Review by Eliza in the Eldernet office.
Candid and brilliantly funny, this is the story of how a tall, shy youth from Weston-super-Mare went on to become a self-confessed legend. En route, John Cleese describes his nerve-racking first public appearance, at St Peter's Preparatory School at the age of eight and five-sixths; his endlessly peripatetic home life with parents who seemed incapable of staying in any house for longer than six months; his first experiences in the world of work as a teacher who knew nothing about the subjects he was expected to teach; his hamster-owning days at Cambridge; and his first encounter with the man who would be his writing partner for over two decades, Graham Chapman. And so on to his dizzying ascent via scriptwriting for Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman and others to the heights of Monty Python.
RRP $37.99
Review by Eliza in the Eldernet office.
Since early childhood I have loved all things Monty Python, which I owe in great part to a father who loved and often quotes from their many varied and hilarious skits!
Not to mention my own recollection of the TV series, Fawlty Towers and the thoroughly funny film, A Fish Called Wanda, all of which helped to cement my deep and abiding love of both British humour and John Cleese.
On this note, I approached this autobiography expecting it would be laced with moments of hilarity but also add background to the story of a man who has remained one of the enduring comic geniuses of his time.
I certainly haven't been disappointed. The story is punctuated with that fabulous dry wit which makes you giggle excitedly or cackle out loudly. John Cleese covers a lot of ground in this book, charting his rise from small town hobo child, who moved a total of eight times in his first eight years, through his days as a schoolmaster, and onwards into garnering comic recognition as an integral part of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Along his journey he provides his own interesting thoughts on a range of diverse topics; such as mental health, history, Australian cricket and various famous people. The later which is often very frank recommendations tempered with some smile inducing quips.
All in all, this is a very good read which will keep you turning pages, laughing out loud and just might give you some true insight into how John Cleese's brilliant comic mind really works!
Eliza Chapman - An avid reader and Personal Assistant to both Eleanor and Esther at Eldernet and Care Publications
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