Halfway to Hollywood: Diaries 1980-88, By Michael Palin
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.These diaries confirm Palin's TV image as intelligent and self-deprecatory, but can he be so modest if he's willing to publish diaries from 30 years ago? His entries from this distant era tend to bland geniality with spots of interest.
George Harrison is discovered repairing a hedge-trimmer. Alan Bennett tells a story of Noel Coward observing Dudley Moore at the piano. Much of the book is devoted to the slow progress of movie projects.
Even the infamous It's a Royal Knock-Out, in which he participated, was "peculiar, but almost magical". His view of Prince Andrew as "intolerably bossy" hints at the more acerbic tome he might have produced but for his fatal niceness.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments