Martin Sproale is an assistant postmaster obsessed with Ernest Hemingway. Martin lives in a small English village, where he studies his hero and putters about harmlessly--until an ambitious outsider, Nick Marshall, is appointed postmaster instead of Martin. Slick and self-assured, Nick steals Martin's girlfriend and decides to modernize the friendly local office by firing dedicated but elderly employees and privatizing the business. Suddenly, gentle Martin is faced with a choice: meedly accept defeat as he always has, or fight for what he believes in, as his hero, Hemingway, would.Filled with Michael Palin's trademark wit and good humor, this novel is for anyone who has ever dreamed of triumphing over the technocrats and backstabbers of the world. Hilarious, touching, and ultimately inspirational, Hemingway's Chair will make readers stand up and cheer.

If you've ever wondered what happened to the young fellow from Malta who bought his grandfather an altar...If you're concerned about the camper called Jack who found a huge snake in his pack...And if you suspect that an eccentric landowner called Grey spent Christmas a very strange way but aren't sure precisely what that entailed...Then a dip into Michael Palin's Sackful of Limericks will provide all the answers – and a lot of fun besides.

When Michael Palin was researching for his novel HEMINGWAY'S CHAIR his interest was stimulated by Hemingway's appetite for travel and 'Papa's' evocations of the places he knew. Hemingway remains a compelling figure, and Palin's goal was to revisit Hemingway's world. This book includes the American West ('wide lawns and narrow minds'), Idaho, Michigan ('fly fishing, hunting'), Europe in the First World (where Hemingway was wounded serving in the Ambulance Brigade), Cuba (where Hemingway wrote FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS), Paris in the Roaring Twenties and Spain during the Spanish Civil War, Sun Valley and Key West - where the Hemingway lookalike competition is an annual event.

In this beautifully illustrated journal based on a TV documentary, writer, comedian and world traveller Michael Palin journeys to North Korea, offering a glimpse of life inside the world's most secretive country, uncovering surprises and making friends along the way.In May 2018, former Monty Python stalwart and intrepid globetrotter Michael Palin spent two weeks in the notoriously secretive Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a cut-off land without internet or phone signal, where the countryside has barely moved beyond a centuries-old peasant economy but where the cities have gleaming skyscrapers and luxurious underground train stations. His resulting documentary was widely acclaimed.Now he shares his day-by-day diary of his visit, in which he describes not only what he saw—and his fleeting views of what the authorities didn't want him to see—but recounts the conversations he had with the country's inhabitants, talks candidly about his encounters with...

After a live performance at the Hollywood Bowl, The Pythons made their last performance together in 1983 in the hugely successful MONTY PYTHON’S MEANING OF LIFE. Writing and acting in films and television then took over much of Michael’s life, culminating in the smash hit A FISH CALLED WANDA (for which he won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor), and the first of his seven celebrated television journeys for the BBC. He co-produced, wrote and played the lead in THE MISSIONARY opposite Maggie Smith, who also appeared with him in A PRIVATE FUNCTION, written by Alan Bennett.

Keith Mabbut is at a crossroads in his life. When he is offered the opportunity of a lifetime - to write the biography of the elusive Hamish Melville, a highly influential activist and humanitarian - he seizes the chance to write something meaningful.His search to find out the real story behind the legend takes Mabbut to the lush landscapes and environmental hotspots of India. The more he discovers about Melville, the more he admires him - and the more he connects with an idealist who wanted to make a difference. But is his quarry really who he claims to be? As Keith discovers, the truth can be whatever we make it...In this wonderful, heartwarming novel, Michael Palin turns his considerable skills to fiction in the story of a ordinary man on an extraordinary adventure.Reviewpacked with lush, exotic landscapes BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH About the AuthorMichael Palin established his reputation with MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS and RIPPING YARNS. He published his first novel, HEMINGWAY'S CHAIR in 1994, then went on to write his seven bestselling travel books: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, POLE TO POLE, FULL CIRCLE, HEMINGWAY ADVENTURE, SAHARA, HIMALAYA and NEW EUROPE. Alex Jennings is one of Britain's most revered actors and the winner of three Laurence Olivier Awards. His career has included numerous roles in film, TV and on stage, including his notable performance as Charles, Prince of Wales in the film THE QUEEN in 2006. He has also read numerous audiobooks from Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope to A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon in 2006 and Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer in 2012.