A Pocketful of Python


A Pocketful of Python is a series of five books by the Monty Python team, in which each of the surviving members selects their favourite material from the group’s TV series, films, records and books. The first two volumes, by Terry Jones and John Cleese, were released in 1999 as part of the team’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Two further volumes, by Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, followed in 2000 while the final volume, by Eric Idle, was eventually released in 2002. Each team member’s volume includes a preface written by one of the other Pythons. In 2006 all five volumes were released as a single paperback edition, entitled The Very Best of Monty Python.
The concept of each Python choosing their favourite material was later revisited for the TV series Monty Python's Personal Best.

Contents

Volume 1 – Picked by Terry Jones

  • A Preface by the Other Terry
  • Introduction
  • The French Taunt King Arthur
  • The Truth About Protestants
  • The Lumberjack Song
  • The Prodigal Son Returns
  • The News for Parrots
  • Rat Recipes
  • What Have the Romans Ever Done or Us?
  • A Page for Those Who Like Figures of Speech
  • Find the Fish
  • Albatross
  • Our Theatre Critic Reviews “The Merchant of Venice” Performed by the Dairy Herd of Bad Toltz
  • Madam Palm Writes
  • Spam
  • Constitutional Peasants
  • Every Sperm Is Sacred
  • The Undertaker Sketch
  • Madame Palm Writes Again
  • The Man Who Talks Entirely in Anagrams
  • Chez Rat
  • Banter
  • The Oxfod Simplified Dictionary
  • The Minister for Not Listening to People
  • The Court Martial of Sapper Walters
  • What the Stars Really Say
  • The Galaxy Song
  • Bibliography

Volume 2 – Picked by John Cleese

  • A Preface by Michael Palin
  • Eric the Half a Bee
  • Anne Elk’s Theory
  • The Official Medallic Commemoration of the History of Mankind
  • Raymond Luxury Yacht
  • African Notebook
  • Consulting Jean-Paul Sartre
  • We’re All Individuals
  • The Python Panel
  • Larch in Court
  • Fear No Man!
  • The Merchant Banker
  • Johann What’s-His-Name
  • The Last Supper
  • The Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things
  • Arthur ‘Two Sheds’ Jackson
  • Word Association Football
  • Norman Henderson’s Diary
  • The Sacred Castle
  • Spot the Species
  • Documentary
  • Chapel

Volume 3 – Picked by Terry Gilliam

Volume 4 – Picked by Michael Palin

Volume 5 – Picked by Eric Idle

Credits