Audiobooks by Michael Palin

Michael Palin in the Philippines: The incredible new book from the bestselling author and Britain's best-loved travel writer

"Brought to you by Penguin. Michael Palin’s latest adventure sees him exploring one of the most fascinatingly complex and contradictory countries on earth: the Philippines. It’s a popular tourist destination, but also a place of extreme poverty for many. It’s a nation where religious beliefs are strongly held and divorce is illegal, but where political unrest and violence regularly mar everyday life. And, of course, it’s a country still dominated by the legacy of the Marcos family, not least the infamous husband and wife team of Ferdinand and Imelda, whose 21-year rule was dominated by scandal and allegations of corruption. In the course of Michael’s epic journey he gets to see the Philippines archipelago in all its beauty, variety and many paradoxes. He meets some of the warmest and friendliest people he has ever encountered. And at the very end, he finds himself as close to the Marcos family as it’s possible to get – in a meeting that he never thought possible. © Michael Palin 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Michael Palin (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

In Nigeria: The latest travel adventure from the bestselling author

"Brought to you by Penguin. Brimming with wry humour and fascinating insights, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country. With his eightieth birthday looming, it crossed Michael Palin’s mind that now might be the time to hang up his boots, to lounge about at home, to take things easy. Then the opportunity to visit Africa’s most populous nation arose. A few weeks later, he was at Lagos airport, camera crew in town. In the journal he kept during his trip he gives a vivid account of the towns and cities he visited, the landscapes he travelled through, and the people he met: from vibrant but chaotic Lagos, to seemingly deserted streets of Nigeria’s hyper-modern capital, Abuja, to the polluted oil fields of the Niger Delta. Michael Palin is welcomed as an honoured guest by a powerful emir and harangued by a passerby in Benin City. He hears the testimony of a kidnap victim of the terrorist group Boko Haram and experiences the collective spiritual ecstasy of one of Nigeria’s mega churches. And throughout his trip, he experiences at first hand the contradictions of a country that has so much natural wealth and human talent and yet simultaneously grapples with corruption, religious strife and deep inequality. © Michael Palin 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Michael Palin in Venezuela: The fascinating travel adventure from the Sunday Times bestselling author

"Brought to you by Penguin. The wonderful new book from Britain's best-loved travel writer. In February 2025, Michael Palin travelled to Venezuela to get a sense of what life is like in one of South America's most culturally rich, vibrant but also troubled nations. In the journal he kept during his trip he gives a vivid account of the towns and cities he visited, the landscapes he travelled through, and the people he met. Permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country from the best-selling author of Great Uncle Harry and Into Iraq. © Michael Palin 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Great-Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire

"Brought to you by Penguin. Some years ago a stash of family records was handed down to Michael Palin, among which were photos of an enigmatic young man in army uniform, as well as photos of the same young man as a teenager looking uncomfortable at family gatherings. This, Michael learnt, was his Great-Uncle Harry, born in 1884, died in 1916. He had previously had no idea that he had a Great-Uncle Harry, much less that his life was cut short at the age of 32 when he was killed in the Battle of the Somme. The discovery both shocked him and made him want to know much more about him. The quest that followed involved hundreds of hours of painstaking detective work. Michael dug out every bit of family gossip and correspondence he could. He studied every relevant official document. He tracked down what remained of his great-uncle Harry's diaries and letters, and pored over photographs of First World War battle scenes to see whether Harry appeared in any of them. He walked the route Harry took on that fatal, final day of his life amid the mud of northern France. And as he did so, a life that had previously existed in the shadows was revealed to him. Great-Uncle Harry is an utterly compelling account of an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life. A blend of biography, history, travelogue and personal memoir this is Michael Palin at his very finest. ©2023 Michael Palin (P)2023 Penguin Audio"

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Into Iraq

"Brought to you by Penguin. In March 2022, Michael Palin travelled the length of the River Tigris through Iraq to get a sense of what life is like in a region of the world that once formed the cradle of civilisation, but that in recent times has witnessed turmoil and appalling bloodshed. It was a journey of sharp, often brutal contrasts. At one moment he would be exploring the old streets of Baghdad or the ancient ruins of Babylon. At the next he would be visiting the war-torn city of Mosul, or learning about the horrific Speicher massacre in Tikrit. Now he shares the journal he meticulously kept during his trip, in which he describes the very varied places he visited, the people he met and the impressions he formed of a country that few outsiders now venture to see. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs taken on the trip, and permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country. © Michael Palin 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Erebus: Ein Schiff, zwei Fahrten und das weltweit größte Rätsel auf See

"Die HMS Erebus war eines der wichtigsten Forschungsschiffe ihrer Zeit, ihre Expeditionen galten als bahnbrechend. Im Jahr 1848 verschwand sie spurlos in der Arktis – 2014 wurde sie gefunden. Dies ist ihre Geschichte – voller Aufbruchsgeist und Entdeckerlust, Abenteuer, Tragödien, Mut und Menschheitsgeschichte, mitreißend geschildert von niemand geringerem als Michael Palin: Monty-Python-Star, Weltreisender und begnadeter Erzähler. 19. Mai 1845, Greenhithe, England. Sir John Franklin macht sich mit 134 Männern und zwei perfekt ausgerüsteteten Schiffen, der Terror und der Erebus, auf den Weg ins arktische Eis. Der Ruhm und Ehre versprechende, aber zugleich riskante Auftrag Franklins und seiner Offiziere: Die Nordwestpassage – ein Seeweg von Europa nach Asien, in den Handel und Marine große Hoffnungen setzen – soll bezwungen werden, ihr letzter weißer Fleck kartiert. Doch bald fehlt von den Schiff jede Spur. Ihr Schicksal und das ihrer Crews bleibt mehr als anderthalb Jahrhunderte lang ein Rätsel – bis 2014 vor der Nordküste Kanadas ein wahrhaftiger Schatz gefunden wird: das Wrack der HMS Erebus. Monty-Python-Star Michael Palin erzählt mit brillanter Mischung aus sachlicher Genauigkeit, Empathie und Menschlichkeit die so glanzvolle wie tragische Geschichte der mutigen Entdecker und ihres Flagschiffs: von ihrem größten Erfolg der legendären Reise in die Antarktis, bis zur verhängnisvollen Expedition in die Arktis und ihrem katastrophalen Ende. 'Mit enormer Detailkenntnis, präzis und anschaulich berichtet der leidenschaftliche Reisende Michael Palin hier von einer Fahrt, als wäre er selbst dabei gewesen, und schafft es tatsächlich auch, uns beim Lesen die Kälte und Nässe, die Schrecken des Eises und der Finsternis spüren zu lassen.' (Denis Scheck, ARD Druckfrisch)"

Michael Palin (Author), Gert Heidenreich (Narrator)

Audiobook

North Korea Journal

"Brought to you by Penguin. THE BOOK BEHIND THE HIT CHANNEL 5 DOCUMENTARY A glimpse of life inside the world’s most secretive country, as told by Britain’s best-loved travel writer. 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 for Channel 5 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 officialdom, and records his musings about a land wholly unlike any other he has ever visited – one that inspires fascination and fear in equal measure. Written with Palin’s trademark warmth and wit, and illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, the journal offers a rare insight into the North Korea behind the headlines."

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Erebus: The Story of a Ship

"Random House presents the audiobook edition of Erebus, written and read by Michael Palin. N THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER In the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, HMS Erebus undertook two of the most ambitious naval expeditions of all time. On the first, she ventured further south than any human had ever been. On the second, she vanished with her 129-strong crew in the wastes of the Canadian Arctic, along with the HMS Terror. Her fate remained a mystery for over 160 years. Then, in 2014, she was found. This is her story. Now available: Michael Palin's North Korea Journals A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Beyond terrific . . . I didn't want it to end.' Bill Bryson 'Illuminated by flashes of gentle wit . . . It's a fascinating story that [Palin] brings full-bloodedly to life.' Guardian 'This is an incredible book . . . The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we've all been waiting for.' Nicholas Crane 'Thoroughly absorbs the reader. . . Carefully researched and well-crafted, it brings the story of a ship vividly to life.' Sunday Times 'A great story . . . Told in a very relaxed and sometimes - as you might expect - very funny Palin style.' David Baddiel, Daily Mail 'Magisterial . . . Brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has never ceased to tantalise people since the 1840s.' The Times"

Michael Palin (Author), Michael Palin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Do Not Adjust Your Set - Volume 2

"Do Not Adjust Your Set is a 60s comedy show comprised mostly of satirical sketches, often presented in a bizarre, surreal and disjointed manner- much like that of Monty Python, a succeeding show which several of the cast became part of. An important Monty Python predecessor and arguably one of the finest children's sketch comedies ever produced, DNAYS is certainly something you do not want to miss... This volume features a compilation of classic sketches from the show, including: -King Lear -Musicians at Work -Family Grocer -Science for Sixth Forms -Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -Monster Mash -Maternity Ward -On Guard -The Wonder of Words -Stool Pigeon -The Sound of Music -An Extraordinary Sight -Captain Fantastic -The Tartan Thistle Club"

David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Humphrey Barclay, Ian Davidson, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Author), David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Do Not Adjust Your Set - Volume 4

"Do Not Adjust Your Set is a 60s comedy show comprised mostly of satirical sketches, often presented in a bizarre, surreal and disjointed manner- much like that of Monty Python, a succeeding show which several of the cast became part of. An important Monty Python predecessor and arguably one of the finest children's sketch comedies ever produced, DNAYS is certainly something you do not want to miss... This volume features a compilation of classic sketches from the show, including: -Traffic Warden -Round Up -Thank You -Burglary Prevention -Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -Hunting Tigers -Thou Shalt Not -Royal Opera House -Morning Madam Scenes Of Village Life -Captain Fantastic -Miss World"

David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Humphrey Barclay, Ian Davidson, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Author), David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Do Not Adjust Your Set -Volume 6

"Do Not Adjust Your Set is a 60s comedy show comprised mostly of satirical sketches, often presented in a bizarre, surreal and disjointed manner- much like that of Monty Python, a succeeding show which several of the cast became part of. An important Monty Python predecessor and arguably one of the finest children's sketch comedies ever produced, DNAYS is certainly something you do not want to miss... This volume features a compilation of classic sketches from the show, including: -Economic Axe -Chancellor of the Exchequer -Espionage -Custard Factory -Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -Love is a Cylindrical Piano -Miss Pringe -Rehearsal -Cinderella -Captain Fantastic -British Food"

David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Humphrey Barclay, Ian Davidson, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Author), David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Do Not Adjust Your Set - Volume 8

"Do Not Adjust Your Set is a 60s comedy show comprised mostly of satirical sketches, often presented in a bizarre, surreal and disjointed manner- much like that of Monty Python, a succeeding show which several of the cast became part of. An important Monty Python predecessor and arguably one of the finest children's sketch comedies ever produced, DNAYS is certainly something you do not want to miss... This volume features a compilation of classic sketches from the show, including: -Instrumental -The Problems of Falling Over -The Wild and Woolly West -Weather -Hamster Allergies -Post Early for Christmas -Its Lucy! -You're Fired! -Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -Announcement -Tubas in Moonlight -Fancy Dress for Two -Dog Food -Captain Fantastic -Musicians at Work"

David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Humphrey Barclay, Ian Davidson, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Author), David Jason, Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by Michael Palin

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