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So, Anyway...

The Autobiography

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So, Anyway...

By: John Cleese
Narrated by: John Cleese
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Summary

Read by John Cleese with an introduction by Michael Palin. This is the story of how a tall, shy youth from Weston-super-Mare went on to become a self-confessed legend. En route, John Cleese describes his nerve-racking first public appearance, at St Peter’s Preparatory School at the age of eight and five-sixths; his endlessly peripatetic home life with parents who seemed incapable of staying in any house for longer than six months; his first experiences in the world of work as a teacher who knew nothing about the subjects he was expected to teach; his hamster-owning days at Cambridge; and his first encounter with the man who would be his writing partner for over two decades, Graham Chapman. And so on to his dizzying ascent via scriptwriting for Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman and others to the heights of Monty Python. Includes archive clips of many of his most famous moments.

Punctuated from time to time with John Cleese’s thoughts on topics as diverse as the nature of comedy, the relative merits of cricket and waterskiing, and the importance of knowing the dates of all the kings and queens of England, this is a masterly performance by a former schoolmaster.

 Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Entertainment Funny Celebrity Biography Witty Thought-Provoking Comedy

Critic Reviews

Vivid, ridiculously entertaining, and, at times, explosively funny... Cleese is a master of crisp comic prose: his elegant syntax and sudden absurdities would have PG Wodehouse raising a martini glass. So, Anyway... glows with fairness, kindness, gentleness and loyalty. (Nicholas Barber)
Told with considerable charm and a refreshing amount of candour, the story is one of a vulnerable soul gradually finding a degree of security from behind a carapace of cutting wit... Remarkably warm and generous. (Graham McCann)
John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author – smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny… A picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.
So, Anyway… breaks away from the shallow conventions of the famous person's autobiography... The result is a book that is frequently hilarious, occasionally lyrical and always thoughtful. It is a fine and funny achievement.
Like having a long lunch with an amiable, slightly loony uncle. Who also happens to be John Cleese. (Michael Ian Black)
Left me wiping away tears. (Helen Brown)
This is required reading for his fans.
[Cleese's] unrelenting charm and crisp wit make this the hilarious memoir fans expected. The book might as well be coated in glue, as it proves tricky to put down.
An upfront and hilarious account of the comedy legend's early years.
All stars
Most relevant
A very entertaining look back on a life well lived. Lots of generous tips for new writers too. Cleese always shines.

Fun and revealing

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To hear John Cleese struggle to read as he fought back the laughter brings a dimension to this audiobook that you couldn’t get from reading a printed copy or, indeed, from a different narrator. The biggest problem with the book is that it is not long enough! We are given hours of enjoyment with tales of school and university days, but only glimpses of the triumphs of Fawlty Towers and A Fish called Wanda. If there isn’t a vol 2, there should be!

Corpsing with Cleese

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Long book but worth it. really enjoyed. Cleese is a very funny, brilliant man. great to hear his life's journey!

For every John Cleese and Python enthusiast!

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Nice little audio book to recount the time of John Cleese and his life events.
With occassional mentions and discussions on his rise in comedy and tv work ect.

An interesting recount

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John Cleese is a great writer, we all know that and his voice is amazing obviously but having him read it and crack up at his own jokes... priceless.

as good as you would expect

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