The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman

Where to start...

I could keep this review very short and sum up in two words. Since Ive exhausted that avenue with the review title I suppose I am obliged to explain why.

If you ignore the mindless trawling of inconsequential, irrelevant and - frankly - utterly boring conversations with family members and the often unfathomable skimming over of the more interesting aspects of Graham Chapmans life, what you're left with is two covers and a dedication page.
It really is that bad.

Graham Chapman was blessed with an interesting (if occasionally turbulent) existence. This book does not do the man justice and instead of being a "fascinating insight" approaches the subject matter in way which suggests McCabe should perhaps consider a career in accountancy or the civil service.

Inexpertly written, devoid of excitement or fun, this book belongs in the "save for use as toilet paper" hall of fame. I am relieved that I picked this book out of the bargain bucket in a discount book store. Frankly I resent the money I paid for it as it is, but had I paid full price I would be livid.

There are few books Ive read that I would consider a waste of my time, but this definately fits into that category.

In short, steer clear and save your money for any of the other many GC and Monty Python memorabilia.

A disappointing hatchet-job. Dr Chapman deserves better. (3/4 people found this helpful)

This, despite being the Authorized Life, reads like one of those unauthorized hatchet-jobs in which the author hurriedly links together a load of already-published interviews with his own padding, which is weird as Bob McCabe has at least interviewed GC's brother, sister-in-law and partner for this book. These interviews make up the great part of the book and are quoted verbatim and at great length (and if you've ever transcribed a conversation you'll know how awkward that'll sound - hardly anyone speaks in fully-formed, cogent & grammatically correct sentences) when they really ought to have been cut down and in many cases only quoted briefly from - though to do so would have highlighted the paucity of material McCabe was playing with and would have forced him to write a few words of his own, something he doesn't seem either very keen on or very good at.

Apart from those couple of interviews there's little else here that can't be found elsewhere. This book is badly-written, offers no new insights, no new stories, and very few laughs. Thre's a good book to be written about Graham Chapman but this isn't it. In short: don't bother.

Palin's rather pooterish diaries offer more on Python, and GC's own writings will give you a much greater insight into his character than this will.

Only for the real obsessive (and I mean the sort of obsessive who can quote Michael Rimmer, The Odd Job, Out Of The Trees, Yellowbeard ("I may be blind but I 'ave acute 'earing." "I'm not interested in your jewellery.") and all the other OJRIL as well as the Flying Circus) who wants absolutely everything written about the Pythons.

The Life of Graham: The Authorised Biography of Graham Chapman

Bob McCabe

Reader Reviews:

Utterly Dreadful (0/0 people found this helpful)

A disappointing hatchet-job. Dr Chapman deserves better. (3/4 people found this helpful)

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