Michael Palin Books

How to achieve a direct inner experience of your higher nature and the after- death state from which you originate and will return.

"Intrepid voyager, writer and comedian Michael Palin follows the trail of two expeditions made by the Royal Navy's HMS Erebus to opposite ends of the globe, reliving the voyages and investigating the ship itself, lost on the final Franklin expedition and discovered with the help of Inuit knowledge in 2014. The story of a ship begins after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, when Great Britain had more bomb ships than it had enemies. The solid, reinforced hulls of HMS Erebus, and another bomb ship, HMS Terror, made them suitable for discovering what lay at the coldest ends of the earth. In 1839, Erebus was chosen as the flagship of an expedition to penetrate south to explore Antarctica. Under the leadership of the charismatic James Clark Ross, she and HMS Terror sailed further south than anyone had been before. But Antarctica never captured the national imagination; what the British navy needed now was confirmation of its superiority by making the discovery, once and for all, of a route through the North-West Passage. Chosen to lead the mission was Sir John Franklin, at 59 someone many considered too old for such a hazardous journey. Nevertheless, he and his men confidently sailed away down the Thames in April 1845. Provisioned for three winters in the Arctic, Erebus and Terror and the 129 men of the Franklin expedition were seen heading west by two whalers in late July. No one ever saw them again. Over the years there were many attempts to discover what might have happened--and eventually the first bodies were discovered in shallow graves, confirming that it had been the dreadful fate of the explorers to die of hunger and scurvy as they abandoned the ships in the ice. For generations, the mystery of what had happened to the ships endured. Then, on September 9th, 2014, came the almost unbelievable news: HMS Erebus had been discovered thirty feet below the Arctic waters, by a Parks Canada exploration ship. Palin looks at the Erebus story through the different motives of the two expeditions, one scientific and successful, the other nationalistic and disastrous. He examines the past by means of the extensive historical record and travels in the present day to those places where there is still an echo of Erebus herself, from the dockyard where she was built, to Tasmania where the Antarctic voyage began and the Falkland Islands, then on to the Canadian Arctic, to get a sense of what the conditions must have been like for the starving, stumbling sailors as they abandoned their ships to the ice. And of course the story has a future. It lies ten metres down in the waters of Nunavut's Queen Maud Gulf, where many secrets wait to be revealed."-- Provided by publisher

The diaries offer an intimate glimpse into Michael Palin's life during the 1980s, capturing his experiences while filming iconic projects like "The Meaning of Life" and "A Fish Called Wanda." Through humorous anecdotes and personal reflections, Palin shares behind-the-scenes stories, insights into his creative process, and interactions with fellow cast members. This candid account not only highlights his career but also reveals the cultural landscape of the time, making it a compelling read for fans of film and comedy.

All three of Michael Palin's bestselling diaries, covering 30 years from 1969 to 1998.

Made in Wales -- Magnetic north -- Magnetic south -- Far-off shores -- "Our southern home"--"Farther south than any (known) human being has been" -- Dancing with the captains -- "Pilgrims of the ocean" -- "Such a wretched place as this you never saw" -- "Three years from Gillingham" -- Homeward bound -- "So little now remains to be done" -- North by north-west -- No signal -- The truth -- Life and death -- The inuit story -- Resurrection.

This beautifully produced volume - colour plates, outstanding maps - is a landmark achievement.' - Ken McGoogan, author of Fatal Passage`I absolutely loved it: I had to read it at one sitting .

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.

Michael Palin's bestselling diaries of the 1980s, including the filming of THE MEANING OF LIFE and A FISH CALLED WANDA.

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 third volume of Michael Palin's widely acclaimed diaries. After the Python years and a decade of filming, writing and acting, his career took an unexpected direction into travel, which was to shape his working life for the next 25 years. Yet, as the diaries reveal, he also remained ferociously busy on a host of other projects throughout this whirlwind period.