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The Complete "Ripping Yarns"
The reissue tie-in with the 30th anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
- GenresHumorNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 1990
78 people want to read
About the author
Michael Palin
139 books1,208 followersSir Michael Edward Palin, KCMG, CBE, FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries.
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "The Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition" and "Spam". Palin continued to work with Jones, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer. His journeys have taken him across the world, the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "The Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition" and "Spam". Palin continued to work with Jones, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer. His journeys have taken him across the world, the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2026
It were always raining at Denley Moor . . .
And thus we're introduced to Eric Olthwaite and the wonderful Ripping Yarns of Palin/Jones.
Dad loved Eric Othwaite, the boring little tit who always talked about rainfall and shovels. He saw the show on PBS and chuckled all the way through it. So we were hooked.
I've watched all the shows of course, and was thrilled to find them in book form. Even better, they're set up as playlets so if one were of a mind, one could perform them if they only had access to rain gauges, shovels, run-down football pitches, an awful lot of weaponry and grouse.
And thus we're introduced to Eric Olthwaite and the wonderful Ripping Yarns of Palin/Jones.
Dad loved Eric Othwaite, the boring little tit who always talked about rainfall and shovels. He saw the show on PBS and chuckled all the way through it. So we were hooked.
I've watched all the shows of course, and was thrilled to find them in book form. Even better, they're set up as playlets so if one were of a mind, one could perform them if they only had access to rain gauges, shovels, run-down football pitches, an awful lot of weaponry and grouse.
December 28, 2017
Funny and a good follow up to the TV series.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews