The author reads his own book unabridged, bringing out all the wit, humour and evocation of time and place which feature throughout his examination of one of the twentieth century's most colourful legends.

Michael Palin established his reputation with Monty Python's Flying Circus and Ripping Yarns . His work also includes several films with Monty Python as well as The Missionary , A Private Function , an award-winning performance as the haplesss Ken in A Fish Called Wanda , and more recently American Friends and Fierce Creatures . He has also written many books, most notably Around the World in 80Days , Vole to Vole, Full Circle and a number of children's stories. His television credits include two films for the BBC's Great Railway journeys series and GBH . He is also the author of the play The Weekend and the novel Hemingway's Chair .