Monty Python's Flying Circus

Starred review from February 1, 2009
The title says it all, in the silly-serious style that Monty Python fans know and love. This massive work is an episode-by-episode explication of virtually every reference, allusion, in-joke, or parody in the 196974 television series. Since the Flying Circus was as deep as it was wacky, these entries also run the gamut, from Hegel to Spam (of the pre-Internet variety). Some are brief and factual definitions (e.g., Ecce Homo, Joey Boy), while others are mini-essays on products of popular or high culture (e.g., Raquel Welch, works by Brueghel). American readers will benefit from definitions of uniquely British phenomena (e.g., anything associated with cricket). Along with explication, the essays on occasion look at the series within the cultural context of the late 1960s, touching on such topics as its treatment of homosexuality or women. Larsen (theater & media arts, Brigham Young Univ.) is a devoted fan who exhaustively analyzes the series without ever obscuring its unique brand of humor. BOTTOM LINE The work does not provide a plot summary for each episode, so readers will have to be at least somewhat familiar with specific episodes or skits. This one-of-a-kind homage to Monty Python, meticulously researched and well written throughout, deserves a place in all popular culture collection. [Available in print only.]Nadine Cohen, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Monty Pythonenthusiastswill appreciate this companionto Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Author Larsenhas created a sort ofconcordance that providesglosses onall of the allusions andtopical references thatappear in the taped episodes as well as the stage directions and scene descriptionsin the printed scripts.Arrangement is by episode, from 1 to 44; and terms, spoken phrases, or namesfor each episode are alphabetically arranged. Quotations appear in quote marks, while other kinds of terms are italicized.The abbreviation PSC (printed script commentary)identifies terms that come directly from the printed scripts.When relevant, Larsen provides the name of thesketch with which the terms is associatedand thefolder numberfrom the BBCs Written Archive Collection. The volume concludes with a bibliography, a general index, and an Index of Monty Pythons Flying Circus Extras and Walk-Ons (As Scheduled). Although casual fanswill enjoy browsing through the book, itis really designed for well-versed readers.Except in the form of brief entries in each episode chapter (for example, the entry for Episode 13 in the Episode 13 chapter), no background information or summaries are providedbecause, as explained in the introduction, its assumed the reader has seen the episode in question.The index also demands a certain level of knowledge, because it has no cross-references, so readers will need to know to look under Dead Parrot rather than parrot. A sketch index would have been useful, especially because not all sketches appear as entries in the index. For serious fans and comprehensive television collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)