''Monty Python's Big Red Book'' is a humour book comprising mostly material derived and reworked from the first two series of the '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'' BBC television series. Edited by Eric Idle, it was first published in the UK in 1971 by Methuen Publishing Ltd. It was later published in the United States in 1975 by Warner Books. As well as the comedy content, the title itself is a humorous reference to

Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; also romanised traditionally as Mao Tse-tung. (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976), also known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People's Republic of China (PRC) ...

's ''

Little Red Book ''Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung'' () is a book of statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong (formerly romanized as Mao Tse-tung), the former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widel ...

''— despite the title, the book has a blue cover. To add to the confusion, the credits page refers to it as ''Monty Python's Big Brown Book''. The book contains some stills of footage shot for ''

And Now For Something Completely Different ''And Now for Something Completely Different'' is a 1971 British sketch comedy film based on the television comedy series ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' featuring sketches from the show's first two series. The title was taken from a catchphrase ...

'' but not used, including "Ken Shabby" and "Le Pouff Celebre/Flying Sheep". Shortly after publication the book ran into trouble when a music publishing company objected to the use of their trade name being used on the "Bing Tiddle Tiddle Bong" sheet music. After the first 75,000 copies were sold, all subsequent editions removed the reference to "The Wright Ukulele Tutor" and replaced it with "The Volti Subito".Hewison, Robert: ''Monty Python: The Case Against'', p29-30, published in 1981 by Eyre Methuen In 1972 a paperback edition was issued with the words "Special New Hardback Edition" replacing the "Very Urgent" sticker on the front cover. In 1981 both this book and ''

The Brand New Monty Python Bok ''The Brand New Monty Python Bok'' was the second book to be published by the British comedy troupe Monty Python. Edited by Eric Idle, it was published by Methuen Publishing, Methuen Books in 1973 and contained more print-style comic pieces than th ...

'' were reissued as a hardback book entitled ''The Complete Works Of Shakespeare And Monty Python: Volume One – Monty Python''. Paperback editions of both these books were reissued again in 1986 as ''The Monty Python Gift Boks'', sold together inside an outer cover which folded out into a mini poster. In 2008 ''Monty Python's Big Red Book'' was referenced in the '' Doctor Who'' episode "

Silence in the Library "Silence in the Library" is the eighth episode of the fourth series of the revived British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 31 May 2008. It is the first of a two-part story; the second part, ...

* Forewords * Advertisements * Juliette – Ken Shabby & Rosemary, A True Love Story Of Our Times * Credits * Why Accountancy Is Not Boring * Naughty Pages * Join The Professionals * The Silly Party * Keyhole For voyeurs * Batley Ladies Townswomen's Guild * E.D. Silly's Page * Spam * Sports Page * Arts Page * Horace Poem * The World Encyclopedia Of Carnal Knowledge * Australia Page * Children's Page * Postal Blackmail * A Song For Europe * The Importance Of Being Earnest * Are You Civilised? * Le Pouff Celebre * Madame Palm Writes * The Family Tree Of Johann Gambolputty... * The Greatest Upper Class Race In The World * What To Look For In A Great Twit * Lumberjack Song * Do-It-Yourself Story * Goat's Page * Hello O.N.s Everywhere * Whizzo Assortment * English To Hungarian Phrasebook * Johnson's Novelties * How To Walk Silly * Be A Modern Hermit * The Poems Of Ewen McTeagle * The Piranha Brothers * Python Literary Guild * Bibliography

Credits

* Authors –

Graham Chapman Graham Chapman (8 January 1941 – 4 October 1989) was a British actor, comedian and writer. He was one of the six members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python. He portrayed authority figures such as The Colonel and the lead role in two P ...

, John Cleese, Eric Idle,

Terry Jones Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh comedian, director, historian, actor, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy team. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and ...

Michael Palin Sir Michael Edward Palin (; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, television presenter, and public speaker. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. Since 1980, he has made a number of travel documentaries. Palin w ...

* Illustrator –

Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam (; born 22 November 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, comedian, animator, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed 13 feature films, including '' Time Bandits'' (1981), '' ...

* Editor – Eric Idle * Photography – Doug Webb, BBC News Picture Library, The Radio Times, Hulton Picture Library, John Horton, Tony Sullivan * Art Director –

Derek Birdsall Derek Birdsall, (born 1 August 1934) is an internationally renowned British graphic designer. Early life Birdsall was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1934 and attended The King's School, Pontefract, Wakefield College of Art and Central Schoo ...

* Art Editor/Lay-out – Katy Hepburn * Artwork – Roger Hudson, Stephen Scales * Music Arranger – Fred Tomlinson

References

{{Monty Python 1971 books Monty Python literature Comedy books

Contents

Credits

References