THE GOODIES' BOOK OF CRIMINAL RECORDS
London: George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd, 1975. First Edition. Hardcover. Presentation copy, inscribed by Bill Oddie on the front flyleaf: "The Monty Python Rip-off Look-a-like Volume II with love from Bill x." From the library of revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle, accompanied by a letter of provenance. Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot.
Another book from from the British comedic trio, inspired in part by the collage approach to storytelling taken by Monty Python in their own publications. Prior to the debut of their eponymous television comedy show, The Goodies were contemporaries and collaborators of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle. Brooke-Taylor and Cleese studied together and swapped lecture notes, while Idle succeeded Garden as Footlights Club president. Later, Oddie took over the role of the Lord High Executioner from Idle in the English National Opera production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Mikado.
Quarto: [96] p. with numerous illustrations (some color). Original pictorial boards; issued without a dust jacket. Light bumping to the spine heel; otherwise very good. Very good. Item #76145
ISBN: 0297770276
Price: $250.00