A Liar's Autobiography: Volume VI

by Graham Chapman

Graham Chapman reveals what it was like to be part of the revolutionary and zany Monty Python teamRequired reading for Monty Python fans, this true and false memoir is Graham Chapman's own hilarious account of his life as a Python and as a homosexual. The book equals Joe Orton's famous Diaries in providing an unblushing account of a gay lifestyle linked to entertainment. Full of outrageous fictions and touching truths, in telling surreal and outrageous lies Graham Chapman often uncovers a truth about himself and colleagues. The stories Chapman relates--whether as mountaineer or medical student (he was a doctor); actor or alcoholic (he was both); heterosexual groupie-guzzler or homosexual coming to terms with himself (bit of both)--form a surreal and crowded mosaic that is funny, disturbing, and moving by turns. A minor cult classic by a major comic talent.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy, Autobiography, Audiobook, Memoir

244 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 1980

About the author

Graham Chapman was an English comedian, actor, writer, physician and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe. He was also the lead actor in their two narrative films, playing King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the title character in Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I threw up! OK, I didn't throw up, but I did laugh and cry all the way through this autobiography, written by 4 authors, plus a bit after the end by Eric Idle. This one is every bit as bizarre and disjointed as you might expect from the zaniest Python of them all. Full of misleading, repeatedly amended and often denied details of Dr. Chapman's life -- there are at least 3 different birthdates given for the great man in here, just for starters. I finally feel I understand how a Cambridge-trained MD somehow slipped sideways to become one of the best-loved comedy writers ever. After I closed the book I couldn't put it down; knowing more about him now -- much of it clearly incorrect -- I miss him more than I ever did. I immediately popped MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL into the player, watched it while holding the book, and slept with it in my hands. There will never be another one like this man. This is not going to be a good read for people intimidated by new vocabulary words.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Liar's Autobiography stays true to the general Monty Python formula, as Graham Chapman (and his several co-authors) alternate between seemingly true facts of biography and invented scenarios that take off in all sorts of directions. The book is admirably candid about Chapman's alcoholism and the chaotic episodes that often resulted from his habitual drunkenness.

However, I'd be lying if I said this was a great read. Even for a major Monty Python fan like myself, much of this book amounts to little more than extended name-dropping, and the fact that the author(s) frequently poke fun at this "Nivenism" (a nod to the British actor David Niven) doesn't make those parts of the text any more interesting.

There are certainly some funny parts, and Chapman's warm humanity shines throughout, but in many ways the concept of A Liar's Autobiography is better than the product itself.

[Noel K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The beginning was messy, confusing, without a trace of order, chronological or otherwise, but after a chapter or two it became super fun to read. Eric Idle's note at the end was really moving.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Python humour can run a bit thin in places, but this is well worth a read or listen for any casual fan of the oeuvre.

[Ian Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘A Liar’s Autobiography’ is quite unusual for an Autobiography as it was written by five people only one of which is Graham Chapman, it is however his life story, at least partly. The series of co-authors, including Douglas Adams of Hitchhiker fame, add to the book’s overall charm of questioning weather the ‘Liar’ it claims to be about is in fact telling us the absolute truth,

Whist the over members of Python worked out side the group on a series of other projects and collaborations Graham Chapman concentrated his efforts on being a raging homosexual and screaming alcoholic, that should possibly be the other way around. Whilst Chapman does not have a great legacy such as ‘Fawlty Towers’ or ‘Ripping Yarns’ his personnel life is a life less ordinary and the anecdotes collected here are priceless laugh out loud funny stories. The books wrapper’s claim that they are shaggy dog stories gives them an air of authenticity no straight forward autobiography has ever had.

Weather this book is literally true of not is hardly relevant, how the text drifts effortlessly from being at school to being on stage with the Python’s to giving relief to W.E. John’s fictional war her Biggles is a wonder to behold. More liars should come forward with their own life stories.

[Gijs Grob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graham Chapman's autobiography starts as confusing and unsettling as one might expect from Monty Python's most radical member. Luckily, after this rather tiresome start a more classic autobiography emerges, with a clear chronology, and vivid, if often exaggerated memories, especially of Chapman's student years at Cambridge. Chapman's account even gains emotional depth, when he talks about his own coming out, of his de facto adoption of difficult youngsters, and of kindred spirit Keith Moon. The second half of Chapman's memoirs disintegrates into loose stories, mostly written like short scenes. Best of these is chapter eleven, 'A Chapter of Violence', in which Chapman can't get rid of genuinely terrifying homicidal maniac. It's clear from the book that Chapman was a gentle man with a strong sense of justice. For example, as a doctor, he helped people where he could. On the other hand, Chapman was a loose missile, diving deep into sex and alcohol. Indeed, in the first coherent chapter Chapman tells about his rehab. Chapman's style is mostly ironic, intertwined with bits of silliness. Surprisingly, most of the humor hasn't aged well, and I've laughed very little during reading. Jonathan Hill's dated illustrations don't help either, and could easily be missed.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's probably one of the funniest and touching autobiography I have ever read.
Graham Chapman and his co-authors mixed with great efficiency the touching and moving parts(his coming out, his alcoholism, how he presented his companion to the other Monty Python) and furiously hilarious, like how lazy Chapman and cleese were once in Ibizza, and took holidays instead of writing scripts, the Monty Python shows outside the UK etc..
Everything is recalled in a light and funny way. I like a lot how he wrote about his relationship with his parents, with the Monty Python and with his adoptive son.
I'm thinking about this autobiography everytime I watch Life of Brian and Holly Grail.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an anarchic mess, in the image of its maker.
As promised, there is a lot of lying here, a lot of silliness. At times the flights of fancy fall flat, oftentimes they cause LOL. And there is a sincere sounding heart to the book, about the author's alcoholism, his medical training, mountaineering, his foster child. And lots and lots about him being "a butch pouff with a pipe", and a crazy loon.

This is recommended (but not essential) reading for any Monty Python fan.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A startlingly silly story. It would be more informative with a solid lesson in life if somebody else wrote it, but that would be boring. It starts figuratively off the rails, jumps nimbly on track, and ends literally back off rolling down an incomprehensible mountain of fame and debauchery. Don't try this at home.

[Aleks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. He was very open about everything in his life. My favorite story is how, as a young child, he put a chair in the sink and sat in it. He said he wanted to see the sink's perspective.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this as a Python fan, and because I heard it was so funny. while there is much humor here, I find it more moving than hilarious. I feel confronted with his own alcoholism and promiscuity, Chapman used the jokes as a shield and the effect is more sadness than mirth.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest book I have ever read. Joke after joke of surreal fantasy mixed with gorgeous hyperbole on every searing page. I sound very pretentious but it really is hILARIOUS with a capital 'h'.

[Tara Montague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham Chapman, the gay alcoholic (dead) member of Monty Python: Confusing. Hilarious. Chaotic. Brilliant.

[S V B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The later chapters (especially the bits with Keith Moon in) are brilliant. Lots of giggles and quite a lot of sexy bits. The best illustration is "David swims past" which I'd forgotten was in this book even though I've loved it for about 20 years. I enjoyed the story about Michael Palin playing skittles and the random Captain Scott part which was a nice surprise!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Officially loved this just as much as the first time I read it ❤️

[Maggi LeDuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly outrageous book. Filled with stories I'm too afraid are lies to pass on as fact, but can't help but to share with everyone!

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my estimation Graham Chapman was the bad boy, or fuckup, if you will, out of all the members of Monty Python’s. Of course, his competition for this dubious role among the group wasn’t very stiff by comparison. Nevertheless, if it sounds a little harsh to speak of the dead in this way just consider the fact that he frequently caroused with Keith Moon, the infamous maniacal drummer prankster of rock band The Who. This alone shows that he could really be nothing less of a wild man himself and makes for some extremely entertaining reading in his autobiography. Graham also happened to be a closeted homosexual as well as a severe alcoholic who eventually came out to the public on both points. Consequently, it would be an extreme understatement to say that his life story would merely hold ones interest in a few colorful anecdotes of who he associated with.

These days, if you listen to any of the remaining Python’s speak of Graham he is often maligned as being the weak link of the group and someone that was frequently a nightmare to work with. [Out of all of them, Terry Gilliam is the most outspoken on this point in a stereotypical loud American way.] Well, he may not have been the greatest Python, but truthfully the total sum of this legendary comedy group outweighs any of it individual parts, so taking a microscope to any of them is a little unfair.

Nevertheless, on this side of the fence I have always had a great fondness for him. His seemingly effortless mock air of dignity made him one of the best “straight men” in comedy that one could ever hope for [an unintended tasteless pun]. This inherent quality of respectability also somehow even transferred to his blue hair biddy characters and made his portrayals of twits that much more “cunning of a stunt,” shall we say? [A blatantly intended tasteless pun!]

Despite anything heard to the contrary it’s clear that deep down all of his friends and co-workers loved the man dearly. [Watch his eulogy by the Pythons on YouTube to see just how much.] They may have wished he was less trouble but at heart, so did he. This book that he wrote on his life clearly shows this and is in turns, equally sad and hilarious as he confesses all of his largest ills and secrets. It’s small and brief little thing but it is full of revelations and astute observations of his life and of course, plenty of silly bits.

For me, I find the fact that he called his book “A Liar’s Autobiography” to not only show his own brand of Python humor but also just how far he was willing to tell the truth. After all, he did in fact lie about his sexuality and drinking problem for a large portion of his life and so it is aptly named on this score. More importantly, I feel it is also a biting criticism on the genre itself. For, I feel most autobiographies tend to largely be self-deluded fantasies that are usually nowhere near the real story. By making a joke about this in his title, it may have even allowed him an easier way of revealing some of the more harsher truths here.

Although he was clearly immensely talented in his own right, I think the years of writing and performing with a troupe must have bred a certain dependency in him for this particular dynamic, that and his crippling dependency on alcohol may have made it somewhat necessary that he rely on others as well. So, even in writing this so-called “autobiography” he seems to have needed a helping hand in what is by definition normally a solo venture. Up to four other writers had their hand in this and actually there many have possibly been a few more uncredited. Worth mentioning among these is the amazing sci-fi humorist Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

This many cooks is said to spoil the stew but somehow there doesn’t really seem to be any discernable presence of these other writers. Graham’s voice and brand of humor being so definable and influential that these others can wear it as a second skin and not be detected. Hopefully, Graham wrote some of this himself. If not, one would never know and he truly was a magnificent liar if so. I highly recommended this book, especially to every Python fan and even those who aren’t!

[DannySss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in the library 3 years ago and read it. Fun and absurd as Gray was. Very entertaining to read and please don’t take it seriously.

[Liss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I contentedly sigh as my joyous little journey through this book comes to a close.

I first need to say that this book is rich with the voice of Graham Chapman. Well, that's surprising, you might sarcastically point out, this is only his bloody autobiography after all. But hang tight, I rather mean that it so beautifully documents his personality, world view and general life which might otherwise have been somewhat eclipsed by the more readily accessible (and rather much more on-going) personalities of his surviving comedy fellows. Especially given the still ever expanding library of post-Python works and interviews.

However, it must be pointed out that if you are signed up to read of Python escapades you might be a bit disappointed, though I would argue still all the more richer for reading through Graham's life in vaguely chronological anecdotes.

Much (if not all) of this autobiog is very entertaining and especially humorous, and while you may not leave with much more of an insight into his relationship with or his opinions on his fellow Pythons, it does help identify Graham's unique humour and voice within the body of Python work; in particular his preference for dark humour, word play, or simply joyous digressions into the silly absurdity of scrambled academic references. (Cf. Oscar Wilde, Cpt. Biggles, and the such).

(Very very small spoilers in this next bit if you squint hard enough.)
Despite the large focus upon events outside of Python, there are still some interesting references to the troupe dotted about for your fan-pleasure. And perhaps even more intriguing because they are not always wholly positive. On one occasion he insists a 20-something Eric Idle was entirely ignorant of homosexuality's existence, and rather harshly attributed this to him having been brought up solely by his widowed "Mary Whitehouse" mother.

There are rather more references to John Cleese, as to be expected given their long friendship since university, but all in all, aside from one very funny script-format conversation dramatising the decision to go with the name "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (in which Terry Jones is incapable of making many proper word sounds due to his Welsh nationality), the book shies away from commenting too much on his comedy comrades.

Personally, I rather liked this aspect of it as it shows many sides to Chapman which just are not seen in his comedy writing, such as his compassion and openness to help those less fortunate, and his very long struggle with alcoholism. (Something well documented by others, but here from his own perspective and, true to his preference for the dark comedy, frequently funny). Also, to be fair to him, virtually all of his MP colleagues follow a similar line of refusing to comment on each other except in an--often affectionately--disparaging manner. For instance I'm pretty sure it is universally acknowledged that if John Cleese says something hilarious and yet decidedly critical about you then he probably likes you. Even Palin, the so-called "nicest man in the world", admitted in a recent interview, that they all really enjoy it when one of them fails at some project or another.

In summary, if you're a Python fan (which of course you are why would you read it otherwise) it's marvellous, but perhaps not for the reasons you were expecting.

[Filipa D · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Python's fan, I'm trying to consume everything each of them has done and this autobiography by the only dead member was my most recent consumption. For the first chapters I was afraid that the title would be the funniest part of the book (it's a really good title!), but slowly Chapman and the rest of the authors leave a bit of the most nonsensical and, frankly, uninteresting narratives behind and focus on supposedly real, amusing bits of a life lived with excess everything and gone too soon. This book made death a funny part of life, as it is, one should always look on the bright side of it ;D

[Romana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je to naprosto obtulární.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose most readers come to a Monty Python autobiography for the funny bits (more on this anon), but I rarely laughed.

Instead, I found that the best parts of this book were about Chapman's coming to terms with his homosexuality, his alcoholism, and his training as a physician. Sometimes, having established that he will write irreverently and without regard for the acceptance of others' judgement, Chapman puts together a memorable observation. This one caught my eye:

Personal masturbation is a noble pastime -- enhancing as it does the faculty of imagination -- but, as acted out on a national scale becomes true to its Victorian name of self-abuse. Viz. the Trooping of the Colour, Bastille Day, Mayday in Moscow, July 4th in America, Timepiece Afternoon in Switzerland, Football matches in Brazil, and anything at all that happens in Germany or Japan. I mean, let's all of us come off it. What are we? We are tubes -- hollow cylinders of flesh. What is our expectation from life? Regular fulfilment of primitive functions at both ends, coupled with the thought that we must progress, leaving at least something behind us, very much in the same way a dog pisses on a tree.

His account of telling his mother that he was gay also stood out -- "don't tell your father. It will ruin him!" Good grief. And don't ever drink gin or spend time with Keith Moon.

I sadly find that that the Pythons rarely have anything interesting to say about Monty Python, perhaps because it's all been said or perhaps because writing jokes in a room sounds funnier than it is. The funniest thing about his account of the Pythons is that he almost always refers to John Cleese by his full name, John Cleese, and almost never as just "John."

The commissioner of the RCMP in Winnipeg appears.

On another note, this book was remarkably difficult to track down. It wasn't in my library and at first I couldn't find it on interlibrary loan. I never found it at any of a number of used book stores, but then I spent another ten minutes on interlibrary loan and found it with some counterintuitive searches and filters. I don't know why it was so difficult to find.

[Faith Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few passages in this book that would be of interest an impartial audience (anyone not swept along by liberty campaigns). If it was just about comedy though, I think it would have appealed to a much broader readership. There is an overwhelming proportion of content to emphasise Graham Chapman defining himself by the attribute of gayness (with a pipe), at the expense of defining himself by his comedy writing and performance talents. Is it just me that thinks of him as a great comedian first and doesn’t care what he did when he went home?

The first thing I noticed was that it includes a re-working of Douglas Adams’ Peony Sketch, which was first broadcast in Out of the Trees (1975) and was the first occasion that Douglas blew up planet Earth (followed three years later by Hitchhiker’s Guide and then the unmade BBC pilot script The Ends of the World, which was going to destroy the planet a different way each week for a dozen episodes). In this version, Chapman tells the story as if it has happened to himself and his boyfriend, then he cuts the ending off and just walks away down the street (surely ruining it, but he never could do punch-lines). The reason this recycled sketch is in there is because Adams was a friend of Chapman (appeared in Monty Python Series 4 in the Donor Card Sketch), but Chapman had so many friends engaged in helping him write this book that he let some go, including Douglas, along with the potential for radically interesting and intelligent invention. In turn, Douglas’s biography includes the recollection that Chapman spent most of the writing days knocking off early to drink too much gin in the pub and then tried to snog his co-authors.

The second anecdotal story which was fascinating and had an authentic sense of menacing tension was the Miss Finsbury episode, where Chapman assists local fund raising by handing out raffle prizes but inadvertently draws the attention of two thugs who have been tasked with ensuring the chastity of Miss Finsbury, whose husband is a gangland figure tucked away in prison. Chapman’s defence against questioning about his interest in this woman is that he didn’t do anything and anyway he was “a pouf”, but the gangster thug answers that he is one too and they both know that it doesn’t make any difference. Okay, I learned something. Is this story all fiction or did something like it really happen? Did Chapman even write it?

The third is an incomplete sketch from an old stage tour in New York or somewhere where famous wits in the Regency period (Wilde, Shaw etc. – all Pythons) are trying to put each other in awkward positions in front of the Prince Regent that they will need supreme cleverness to escape from, e.g., to the Prince, “Trollope told us you were a streak of bat’s piss.” Trollope, or it may have been Swift but anyway, clarifies that what he meant was even in the darkest night, the Prince’s presence illuminates the scene with golden lustre. He then says something which pits Wilde in a similar fix that he has to improvise a clever compliment to contort himself out of. I found it very annoying when Chapman stopped recounting this sketch before giving us the ending. Has anyone got a copy of it anywhere? Was anyone there?

The rest of the book is grey water with nothing of quality floating in it. They go to Ibiza and do nothing much, they visit J.B. Priestly and do nothing in particular, they talk to Marty Feldman and don’t talk to Paul McCartney, then Chapman comes out as gay to his social circle and dies (in an appended section added to the revised volume post-publication). Eric Idle’s reaction to Graham’s announcement of being gay is one of non-comprehension, i.e. “You go to bed with men?” – “Yes” – “Naked?” – “Yes” – “Oh.” – “Yes” – “but… Why?”

Keith Moon (a drummer in a 1970s-ish group called The Who) comes out of this looking like a gentleman, inoffensive, kind and always fun (maybe I should have read his biography). There’s an awful lot of padding about chronic alcoholism and then a lengthening list of Graham Chapman’ s homosexual pick-ups. Altogether, Chapman seemed into anatomy, as a doctor and later in his private life. He was a champion of gay liberation at a time when the police still thought it was an offense, despite the Puritan era having fizzled out. Live and let live is the only way we know now, partly because of pioneers of human rights like Chapman… BUT, as if this story needed yet another butt, these pages on his dating history simply aren’t interesting enough stories to include in an autobiography on their own merit, especially of someone who did so much else. Why only give the Python shows and films one or two lines as if they were nothing? For example, I know this book was written 3 years too early to discuss Yellowbeard (wonderful plot, incredible cast, Chapman was the star) but what about the co-written projects at that time: Our Show for Ringo Starr, The Dangerous Sports Club of Great Britain sketch and The Private Life of Genghis Khan? Ok, so The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (Chapman and Peter Cook) was mentioned. What about the rest of his lesser-mentioned works? If one of Chapman’s gay conquests was included in this book as an essential component of a funny story, pushing out Python material because it has more value, that would be fine to run with but this seems to be said for the sake of adding to a publically disclosed bedpost-notch list – and edging out more interesting recollections from the world of comedy. So what if he got off with a hotel porter in Sunderland? Sorry, I don’t care. Instead, where are the great sketch ideas he didn’t get around to making?

Altogether, I wanted this to be brilliant and informative, tinkling with absurdity and wit, but it seemed designed to convince me that Graham Chapman was the least inspiring member of the Monty Python team; iconic on screen, boring and a paralytic drunk off it. The Pythons did their bit to stand up for Graham when a busy-body old bitch wrote to the BBC asking for the homosexual on Python to be removed from the screen (which the BBC actually passed on to the actors as if it were credible). Eric Idle wrote back to her saying she was quite right and they were going to have him shot. The next series of Monty Python did not include John Cleese, so that must have left her thinking he was the one.

Graham Chapman, rest in peace. You were fantastic and adored by millions. Your script writing and performances were, and always will be, unforgettable. It’s just such a shame your paperback was gin-soaked piss and missed an opportunity to make people laugh.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham Chapman's autobiography is at times silly, surreal, and touching. It is loosely arranged in chronological order, mostly covering his days in medical school and ending shortly after the death of his friend Keith Moon. There are a few hilarious bits but outside of the delirious/surreal interludes most of the time Chapman shows a fairly dry sense of humor. Based on his performances in Monty Python I imagined he was just very silly, but he also displays some incredibly dark humor as well.

He pulls no punches, giving a grueling account of his alcoholism and "cold turkey" recovery. Although he is very open about his sex life, he mostly avoids getting too graphic. He is fairly self-deprecating even when name-dropping and describing his adventures in mountaineering and so on. He generally comes across as a very intelligent, sensitive, and likable person. While he constantly reminds the reader that he is a liar and even identifies some of the exaggerations and fabrications in footnotes, it mostly feels like a very honest and introspective confession.

After finishing the book I found that an animated film was made, piecing together parts of the book and commentary from people who know him, which presumably continues the narrative to cover his untimely death from cancer. I'll have to check that out.

[Jon Shanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit tricky to get into as first as thing get so surreal and silly you'd want Chapman's Colonel character from Monty Python to come along and stop things. One might forgive Chapman as his struggles with alcoholism had undoubtedly left this mind fuzzy on some of his past, but he is able to come up with plenty of witty anecdotes from his time in education, his burgeoning medical career and amusing scrapes hes gets into, sometimes with celebrity pals, sometimes not, as well as some quite frank and moving discussions about coming to terms with his sexuality and problems his drinking was causing. Things do verge back into the absurd, and one would expect no less, but definitely worth a read for any fan of Python, although they don't take up a huge amount of the book (the founding of the group is actually about two-thirds of the way in) but one might say that his whole life was somewhat "Pythonesque".

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between feature films with the troupe, Monty Python’s frequent leading man penned this unreliably narrated self-bio. A mishmash of old sketches framed as real-life anecdotes and true stories exaggerated to the point of fiction, it’s often (intentionally) difficult to tell where the fabric ends and the fabrication begins. That sounds like a fun idea, and as comedy writers go there are few better, but the theme doesn’t really work in practice, no matter how much Chapman tries to force it. Even casual fans will recognize most of the adapted material, and quickly assess that it fits better in the original context, while many of the slanted confessional bits stop short of being funny and/or deeply revealing. One exception: the passages about Chapman’s brief early career as an obstetrician are an absolute riot. Otherwise? It’s an amusing read, and an interesting Python aside, but nothing worth celebrating.

[TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just a flesh wound. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. Strange women lying in ponds is no basis for a system of government. This parrot is no more; He has ceased to be; he's expired and gone to meet his maker; he's a stiff, bereft of life, he rests in peace; if you hadn't have nailed him to the perch he'd be pushing up the daisies; he's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible; this is an ex-parrot!

The Monty Python troupe played a large role in my upbringing. My dad and I traded quotes from about the time I could talk.

"A Liar's Autobiography," by Graham Chapman (who died far too early), is a treat, and a must-read for any Python fan.

For extra credit points track down a copy of Chapman reading it aloud. It's terrific.

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surreal and not-entirely true autobiography written by Graham Chapman of Monty Python fame (along with co-writers that include his life partner David Sherlock and author Douglas Adams). The book starts off with a lot of off-the-wall silly humor typical of the Pythons but does actually settle down and give some real facts about Chapman's life (including silly footnotes). The illustrations are fun, too. If you just want the short version, the filmed animated adaptation is WONDERFUL, in my opinion, but the book certainly goes into more detail about Chapman studying medicine, wrestling with the dawning realization that he's gay, overcoming a pretty serious drinking problem, getting in on the early days of Gay Liberation in Britain and life as a TV comedy writer. Highly recommended to any Python lovers or anyone interested in a pretty non-traditional gay coming-of-age story.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has come to the attention of this reviewer that the so-called 'facts' contained in what is clearly not at all or at least mostly not very much and yet, granted, a little bit of an autobiography are not at all facts but are instead the--what? Yes, I would like another gin and tonic, thank you--and furthermore--BRRBING BBBRING--sorry, phone, what? Who the bloody hell are you? Why on earth would I want now to relate my feelings on the north atlantic halibut? I'm writing a review, madam, good day!--my point being, there are books and there are books, and this book is neither, it is instead almost, but not quite, entirely silly, and I demand a retraction!

[Laura McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bizarre read, but what would you expect on a book on one of the great pythons! Written by Graham, and four other authors, describing events from his incredible life. His surreal stories brought me to tears and then laughter, and then back to tears. His experiences of homophobia were so harsh, and the extent he had to hide that side of his life were so sad but true of the time. He persevered through it all, campaigning to help others struggling with the bigots and narrow-minded family members. His partner David was one of the authors involved. Reading the story of their relationship and love, persevering through it all, really made this book for me.