Michael Palin est célébré pour sa double carrière de comédien pionnier de l'absurde et de captivant documentariste de voyage. S'étant d'abord fait connaître comme membre clé de la troupe comique emblématique, il a coécrit et joué dans certains des sketchs satiriques les plus mémorables. Effectuant une transition profonde vers l'exploration du monde, Palin s'est depuis lancé dans de vastes voyages, documentant ses expériences avec un mélange unique de curiosité intellectuelle et d'humour affable. Ses récits écrits et ses séries télévisées offrent aux lecteurs et aux spectateurs un aperçu intime de diverses cultures et de paysages, marqué par une observation perspicace et une appréciation sincère de l'élément humain.
"The Palestine Festival of Literature was established in 2008. Bringiong together writers from all corners of the globe, it aims to help Palestinians break the cultural siege imposed by the Isreali military occupation, to strengthen their artistic links with the the rest of the world."--Book flap
Intrepid voyager, writer, and comedian Michael Palin explores the expeditions of the Royal Navy's HMS Erebus, which ventured to the world's extremes. The narrative begins post-Waterloo when Britain had more bomb ships than enemies. HMS Erebus, with its reinforced hull, was selected for an 1839 expedition to Antarctica, led by James Clark Ross. Despite sailing further south than anyone before, Antarctica failed to capture public interest. The British navy sought to assert its dominance by finding a route through the North-West Passage, leading to Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 mission. At 59, deemed too old for such a perilous journey, Franklin and his crew set off, provisioned for three Arctic winters. They were last seen by whalers in July, and no one ever saw them again. Subsequent searches revealed the tragic fate of the explorers, who succumbed to hunger and scurvy after abandoning their ships in the ice. The mystery endured until HMS Erebus was discovered in 2014, thirty feet below Arctic waters. Palin examines the contrasting motives of the two expeditions—one scientific, the other nationalistic—through historical records and modern travels to key locations, capturing the haunting echoes of Erebus and the secrets that still lie beneath the waters of Nunavut's Queen Maud Gulf.
This is the script of the film which looks at what life is really all about, which featured the whole Monty Python team and was directed by Terry Jones This is a fully illustrated edition of the hilarious Python classic, which takes a pop at almost every single sacred cow of culture and includes the famous tune "Every Sperm is Sacred." Although primarily aimed at an audience of fish, Monty Python's film, The Meaning of Life, spans the whole range of human experience. It starts with the birth of a seemingly insignificant human being (especially from a haddock's point of view) who, sure enough turns out to play no further part in the film.
Michael Palin - Monty Python star and television globetrotter - brings the remarkable Erebus back to life, following it from its launch in 1826 to the epic voyages of discovery that led to glory in the Antarctic and to ultimate catastrophe in the Arctic. The ship was filled with fascinating people: the dashing and popular James Clark Ross, who charted much of the 'Great Southern Barrier'; the troubled John Franklin, whose chequered career culminated in the Erebus's final, disastrous expedition; and the eager Joseph Dalton Hooker, a brilliant naturalist - when he wasn't shooting the local wildlife dead. Vividly recounting the experiences of the men who first set foot on Antarctica's Victoria Land, and those who, just a few years later, froze to death one by one in the Arctic ice, beyond the reach of desperate rescue missions, Erebus is a wonderfully evocative account of a truly extraordinary adventure, brought to life by a master explorer and storyteller
As more and more of Estonia opens up properly to tourists, this new fifth edition is inevitably bigger and better than its predecessor. The author provides extensive coverage on new spa hotels and beaches to be explored as well as hidden manor houses and brand new concert halls to enliven stays there. Features include: *Fully updated accommodation listings *New galleries and museums to explore *A new section on Narva, for travelers en route to Russia
In this engaging third volume of Michael Palin's diaries, readers are invited into the life of the beloved actor and writer as he reflects on his adventures and experiences. The entries capture his travels, creative pursuits, and personal insights, offering a candid glimpse into the joys and challenges he faced during this period. With humor and warmth, Palin shares anecdotes that highlight both his professional endeavors and personal relationships, making it a delightful read for fans and newcomers alike.
The essential gags, sketches, and songs, handpicked and introduced by the surviving members of the Python team. The book features full-color pages of Monty Python classics in a brilliant paperback format and includes gems such as Spamalot, The Meaning of Life, and many more enduring classics.
The lion, Africa’s apex predator and one of the Big Five” can be something of a contradictory creature,’ writes Paul Murray in Bradt’s Zimbabwe . The country itself might be said to be equally contradictory in character. With some of the finest national parks in Africa, Zimbabwe draws curious tourists and wildlife enthusiasts, yet many only know the country from news reports. The mighty Zambezi River offers adventure holidays; Victoria Falls will leave visitors breathless, while the range of birdlife excites ornithologists. The tourist infrastructure is being rebuilt; this guide offers up-to-date information on the facilities, advice on itinerary planning, as well as how to select a safari. In addition, the book provides accommodation options for all budgets from luxury safari camps to budget stays for younger travellers.
The second volume of Michael Palin’s diaries spans the 1980s, a decade marked by the loosening ties of the Pythons after their last film, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, in 1983. During this period, writing and acting dominated Palin's life, highlighted by his role as the stuttering Ken in A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. This volume chronicles his journey through seven films, culminating in his preparations for the transformative documentary, Around the World in 80 Days. Palin co-wrote and acted in Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits and starred in Brazil, while also co-producing and leading in The Missionary alongside Maggie Smith. His television work included East of Ipswich, reflecting his connections to Suffolk, and he was drawn into hosting the popular Saturday Night Live in the US. Additionally, he filmed a segment for the BBC’s Great Railway Journeys and became chairman of the pressure group Transport 2000. Throughout these years, his life with Helen and their growing children remains a constant, and his joy in writing shines through as he expresses his wonder at the world of screens, both large and small.
From the time, many years ago, when Michael Palin first heard that his grandfather had a brother, Harry, who died in tragic circumstances, he was determined to find out more about him.The quest that followed involved hundreds of hours of painstaking detective work. Michael dug out every bit of family gossip and correspondence he could. He studied every relevant official document. He tracked down what remained of his great-uncle Harry's diaries and letters, and pored over photographs of First World War battle scenes to see whether Harry appeared in any of them. He walked the route Harry took on that fatal, final day of his life amid the mud of northern France. And as he did so, a life that had previously existed in the shadows was revealed to him.Great-Uncle Harry is an utterly compelling account of an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life. A blend of biography, history, travelogue and personal memoir this is Michael Palin at his very finest.
