A Liar's Autobiography
Graham Chapman shouldn't need an introduction. If he does, it would be far better to run down to the local videostore and rent three seasons of Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Or Life of Brian. Or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Or, better yet, all of them.
This autobiography of his was written with four co-writers. This was essential, as according to his friends he couldn't be the creative engine himself, which was a great shame as he was one of the funniest persons ever born. Python sketches are mixed into the text where one least expect them, even when he writes about things that occured before he even knew the rest of the lot. Otherwise, the python-years are mostly ignored. Well, they're there but he barely touches the subject. Suddenly they just sit there in a room, discussing what the damn thing is to be called. But that is as it may, those bits arn't as interesting as the rest of the book.
It is a rollercoaster where laughter sits in the seat in front of you. Most times I sat there with a smirk on my lips. He never wants to be pittied, not even when he describes his worst times as a messy alcoholic. Instead he has this "this was my problem, go find your own"-attitude which he uses to make fun out-of himself. Still, aply named A Liar's Autobiography it is up to the reader to sort out the truth from the lies. And I think that they meet, even Dinsdales brother Doug would be afraid of Graham.
At the end of the book there is a jump from 1980 up to his death. Grahams own words stop at the beginning of the eigthies and a short addition was written by Eric Idle after Graham had died.
Tuesday, 22 January 2002. 13:29
Biography 
notes in the margin (1)