“Monty Python pure! Free from the irritating sounds and movements by the cast that made the TV shows unwatchable.”

-Terry Gilliam

“Ideal for people who can’t read.” – Eric Idle

Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Complete and Annotated…All the Bits

Monty Python’s Flying Circus remains one of the most popular, influential, and oft-quoted comedy series of all time, even forty years after the airing of its first episode. Now, Black Dog & Leventhal delivers the definitive collection that every Python fan has been waiting for. In MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS: Complete and Annotated (November 13, 2012), you’ll find behind-the-scenes anecdotes, photographs, iconic artwork by Terry Gilliam, and every script from all 45 episodes of the innovative, hilarious, and absurd Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Savor every silly setup, clever conceit, and snide insult from classic skits like “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” “The Dead Parrot,” “The Cheese Shop,” “Spam,” “The Funniest Joke in the World,” “The Spanish Inquisition,” “The Argument Sketch,” “The Fish-Slapping Dance,” and “The Lumberjack Song.”

The scripts are helpfully annotated with notes that cover the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical references touched upon in each sketch. Profiles of the principals—Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and John Cleese—as well as sidebars offering facts about technical concerns, set design and shooting locations; stories from on and off the set, including arguments, and accidents; goofs and gaffes; more than 2,000 photographs, and much more.

MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS: Complete and Annotated is the gift for the Python fan in your life this holiday season.

“Can be used to make a small bungalow sleeping eight.”  - Eric Idle

“At last! Monty Python brought up to date–all the bits and the references explained like never before!” – Terry Jones

“Quite astounding.” – God

“I wish I’d stayed alive long enough to write this kind of stuff.” – Goethe

“If you really want to get to the essence of Python, this is the book for you.” – Plagiarist’s Weekly

Every script is annotated with notes that cover the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical references touched upon in each sketch.

Sidebars and commentary throughout include profiles of the principles–Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam; fascinating facts about technical concerns, set design, and shooting locations; insider stories from on and off set, including arguments, accidents, and practical jokes; goofs and gaffes; and much more.

Luke Dempsey is a deputy editor of bookish.com and the author of the memoir A Supremely Bad Idea. A native of England—and a massive Python fan—he currently lives in Griggstown, NJ.