Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Travelling to Work
- Diaries 1988–1998 (Volume 3)
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Travelling to Work
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Travelling to Work is the third volume of Michael Palin's widely acclaimed diaries. After the Python years and a decade of filming, writing, and acting, Palin's career takes an unexpected direction into travel, which will shape his working life for the next 25 years. Yet, as the diaries reveal, he remained ferociously busy on a host of other projects throughout this whirlwind period.
Travelling to Work opens in September 1988 with Michael travelling down the Adriatic on the first leg of a modern-day Around the World in 80 Days. He was not the BBC's first choice for the series, but after its success and that of the accompanying book, the public naturally wanted more. Palin, though, has other plans.
Following the tumultuous success of A Fish Called Wanda, he is in demand as an actor. His next film, American Friends, is based on his great-grandfather's diaries. Next he takes on his most demanding role as the head teacher in Alan Bleasdale's award-winning drama series GBH. There is also his West End play, The Weekend; a first novel, Hemingway's Chair; and a lead role in Fierce Creatures, the much-delayed follow-up to Wanda.
Michael describes himself as 'drawn to risk like a moth to a flame. Someone grounded and safe who can be tempted into almost anything.' He duly finds time for two more travel series - Pole to Pole, in 1991, and Full Circle, in 1996 - and two more best-selling books to accompany them.
These latest Diaries show a man grasping every opportunity that came his way, and they deal candidly with the doubts and setbacks that accompany this prodigious word-rate. As ever, his family life, with three children growing up fast, is there to anchor him.
Travelling to Work is a roller-coaster ride driven by the Palin hallmarks of curiosity and sense of adventure. These 10 years in different directions offer riches on every page to his ever-growing army of fans.
What listeners say about Travelling to Work
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicolette Marie Atkin
- 23-07-15
Excellent
Interesting insight into celebs lifestyle. Good to hear honest view of relationships between the Pythons.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- JDL
- 04-04-22
Sheffield's Finest
Michael Palin is interesting, entertaining, funny, respectful. There are so many words I could use but I lack his intellect. So, just listen to it, it's very good.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- BILL DOOR
- 25-02-23
Brilliant
A wonderful journey of Mr Palin’s decade. He really is a superb orator. An enjoyable listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Filce
- 17-02-21
Enthralling start to finish
What a wonderful life MP has had, and this book is only part of it. Plenty of humour tinged with sadness. Thoroughly enjoyed it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tom
- 01-12-23
Relive the 90s while gaining a fascinating insight into the working and personal life of a Python
A fascinating, epic insight into a writer / TV creative’s life, while re-living the 90s.
History runs along in the background harmonising the account of Palin’s work as a travel presenter. Politics, art, memorable moments of British life in the 90s are all there while Palin recounts his creative projects and family life with his unsurpassed combination of humanity, wit, kindness and intelligence.
This book takes you into heart-breaking moments such as the beautiful account of the passing of Graham Chapman and of Palin’s mother to film sets in New York and Switzerland; to travel locations around the world and dinners with everyone from Jonny Depp to Royalty; from a stellar moments of celebrity public life to the most intimate reflections as a father and friend.
This is a long but great book which makes you feel you have travelled through life and the world with Palin - quite appropriately.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Addlibandscore
- 21-06-15
Sometimes sad sometimes very funny but always engaging. A great listen.
I enjoyed all the Michael Palin travel series and read his previous memoirs so thought I'd get this. Travelling to work brings together his thoughts about his travels and merges them with a thread of Python reminiscences, his work on films and some really difficult personal moments. He's just such an interesting bloke to listen to. Sometimes sad sometimes very funny but always engaging. A great listen! Don't get put off by the first 20 minutes. It gets better when he gets into his flow.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- MICHAEL MURRAY
- 06-11-18
Palin at his best
loved it. Michael Palin has a way of putting you at ease with his storytelling.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 10-01-23
The best way to feel safe and happy
I love Michael Palin. I could listen to him all day long. And mostly do. A wonderful human being.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- T
- 12-10-14
Gentle reminsicences
This book follows Palin's well proven style from his many successful travelogues - Around The World, Pole To Pole etc. So, if you liked those, you will find these gentle reminiscences a pleasantly diverting listen. I rarely like autobiographies or diaries, but I like Palin's delivery so much that I found Travelling To Work a good listen. He's a gifted man, but seems to have worked hard to exploit his gifts. The book is of course littered with name-dropping, but I think that reasonable for a member of the Oxbridge media glitterati. I didn't feel I learned anything much about the man himself but quite a lot about his work and that was easily interesting enough to keep me entertained throughout.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian
- 04-11-18
Love it.
One of my favourite books to listen too. so I retesting to here into someone's life and written in a way that draws u in.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!