All good things must come to an end. And so it was with Monty Python's Flying Circus, the most outrageously off-the-wall and brilliantly silly Comedy of All Time.

After four seasons of inspired lunacy, the Pythons hung up their TV spurs and became superheroes, repeatedly saving the world from diabolical villains and menacing threats from outer space.

But fear not! Their pre-heroic exploits are available to you on this gloriously remastered and utterly complete DVD of the Complete Fourth Season featuring such gems as "Buying an Ant", "The Batsmen of the Kalahari" and "The Golden Age of Ballooning".

The first feature film by the Monty Python team is a mock heroic tale set in medieval Britain with lots of silly things going on besides. In a series of sketches and animations, the Pythons recount scenes from the Grail legend in which the knights forsake their chorus line can-can dancing in Camelot for a higher aim. Typically, the Pythons set-up a 'historical' tale which is really a take on the modern world. Memorable scenes, like Graham Chapman's King Arthur battling with John Cleese's Black Knight until the latter is reduced limb by limb down to a speaking stump of a torso, capture both the hilarity and grotesque nature of brutality. In scene after scene King Arthur's men are led a merry chase through the countryside, encountering life on many different social levels. This screenplay edition contains just the script and is supplemented by stills from the film.

Anyone who is planning on carrying out research in South Asia or indeed anyone who simply wishes to understand more about this cultural heartland should read this book. It shows how geological movements moulded the land of this unique cradle and how they still impact on it. Discussions are woven around the three major forces of integration. These are 'identitive' forces - bonds of language, ethnicity, religion or ideology; 'utilitarian' forces - bonds of common material interest, and 'coercion' - the institutional use or threat of physical violence. By studying these forces, Professor Chapman shows how the organization of territory has been central to the region's historic, cultural, linguistic and economic development. In addition to the material on the Northwest frontier, Afghanistan and Kashmir which was added for the second edition, the Northeastern borderlands are also now examined in this fully revised third edition. The current geopolitical state of the region is completely updated and greatly enhanced.

Anyone who is planning on carrying out research in South Asia or indeed anyone who simply wishes to understand more about this cultural heartland should read this book. It shows how geological movements moulded the land of this unique cradle and how they still impact on it. Discussions are woven around the three major forces of integration. These are 'identitive' forces - bonds of language, ethnicity, religion or ideology; 'utilitarian' forces - bonds of common material interest, and 'coercion' - the institutional use or threat of physical violence. By studying these forces, Professor Chapman shows how the organization of territory has been central to the region's historic, cultural, linguistic and economic development. In addition to the material on the Northwest frontier, Afghanistan and Kashmir which was added for the second edition, the Northeastern borderlands are also now examined in this fully revised third edition. The current geopolitical state of the region is completely updated and greatly enhanced.

The mass media in different countries reflects dominant concerns of contemporary societies. Ideas of `environmentalism' are often broad and imprecise, holding neither meaning nor currency. Environmentalism and Mass Media sheds new light on the diverse ideas of `environmentalism', the way environmental ideas circulate, and public reaction to environmental concerns conveyed by the media. Drawing on unique interviews with journalists, media pictures, and public opinion surveys in both UK and India, the authors outline the differing cultural, religious and political contexts against which `world views' form present a fascinating picture between North and South. Mass media and communication technology is in danger of locking Northern countries into a ghetto of environmental self-deception, thereby perpetuating poverty in the South. The South's goal remains the attainment of development; the North sees `environmental' problems occuring `elsewhere' - in Eastern Europe and developing countries. Whether or not `environmentalism' becomes a universal cause depends on how and to what extent such sharply contrasting world views can converge.

The mass media in different countries reflects dominant concerns of contemporary societies. Ideas of "environmentalism" are often broad and imprecise, holding neither meaning or currency. This volume discusses the diverse ideas of "environmentalism", the way environmental ideas circulate, and public reaction to environmental concerns conveyed by the media. Drawing on interviews with journalists, media pictures, and public opinion surveys in both UK and India, the authors outline the differing cultural, religious and political contexts against which "world views" form present an interesting picture between North and South. Mass media and communication technology is in danger of locking Northern countries into a ghetto of environmental self-deception thereby perpetuating poverty in the South. The South's goal remains the attainment of development; the North sees "environmental" problems occuring "elsewhere" - in Eastern Europe and developing countries. Whether or not "environmentalism" becomes a universal cause depends on how and to what extent such sharply contrasting world views can converge.

In the context of environmental change there's been little discussion about what is actually meant by "short-" or "long-term"; yet an understanding of timescales of change and how they relate is crucial to truly responsible environmentalism. To physical geographeers the last 10,000 years is recent; to politicians, five-year environmental problems that can't be solved before the next election year are far beyond their horizons. "Timescales of Environmental Change" brings together impressive contributors from across the physical and social sciences, offering a fascinating range of perspectives. Original papers, from a recent Conference at SOAS are rewritten with the book's introductory and concluding chapters as a base, and timely contributions have been added. A focussed book is the result.

In the context of environmental change there's been little discussion about what is actually meant by "short-" or "long-term"; yet an understanding of timescales of change and how they relate is crucial to truly responsible environmentalism. To physical geographeers the last 10,000 years is recent; to politicians, five-year environmental problems that can't be solved before the next election year are far beyond their horizons. "Timescales of Environmental Change" brings together impressive contributors from across the physical and social sciences, offering a fascinating range of perspectives. Original papers, from a recent Conference at SOAS are rewritten with the book's introductory and concluding chapters as a base, and timely contributions have been added. A focussed book is the result.

CROSS REF DEV STUDIES Both Africa and the Middle East have sought alternatives to Western models of development. The last twenty-five years have seen political independence for the states of Africa and increased economic dependence on external aid. The Middle East, resource rich and water poor, continues economically robust but politically unstable. In both regions, widespread poverty continues as does the involvement of the West.
Clearly illustrated with basic maps of the countries discussed, The Changing Geography of Africa and the Middle East presents a systematic review of twenty-five years of development. The book will prove an invaluable guide to the physical, economic, social and political environments of contemporary Africa and the Middle East.


eBook available with sample pages: 0203034503

When The Life of Brian was first released in 1979 it was hailed by most as Monty Python's finest parody and denounced by a few as the most blasphemous film of all time. But, with its unforgettable songs and its infinitely quotable script it has gone on to become an enduring cult classic.

As the world's population continues to grow apace and an increasing number of countries aspire to a twenty-first century lifestyle so the question of access to water resources becomes ever more critical. This timely volume shows how the struggle to control water is an issue of growing geopolitical importance. Drawing on a wealth of examples, and revealing how current problems are not necessarily new as often suggested, the international contributors provide a deeper theroetical analysis of the issues, enabling a clearer understanding to be obtained of how experience in one region can properly be related to that of other regions.

From 'The Lumberjack Song' to 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life', the Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Songbook does pretty much what it says on the cover, collecting up the cream of the Python team's musical output, from the four TV series and the various feature films. Included are such gems as 'Eric the Half-a - Bee', 'Sit on My Face and Tell Me That You Love Me', 'Bruces' Philosophers Song', 'Oliver Cromwell', 'The Knights of the Round Table', 'Christmas in Heaven', 'All Things Dull & Ugly', 'Every Sperm is Sacred', and 'Isn't it Awfully Nice to Have a Penis', amongst many others, all arranged with music for the piano and accompanied by Terry Gilliam's incomparable cartoons; Reissue of a classic Monty Python humour title; Original edition sold 10,000 copies; Arranged for Piano; Ilustrated by Terry Gilliam; With a foreword by 'Elvis Presley', and complete instructions on how to play the piano

THE must-have book for every Monty Python fan is now in paperback! Monty Python's Flying Circus: Complete and Annotated... All the Bits includes every script from every episode of the innovative, hilarious, and absurd series--one of the most influential of all time--plus hundreds of annotations, behind-the-scenes stories, profiles, and more, as well as photographs, drawings, and Terry Gilliam's iconic artwork. Monty Python's Flying Circus is one of the most popular, important and oft-quoted comedy series of all time. This landmark work collects the complete scripts for every one of the 45 episodes of Flying Circus: every silly setup, every clever conceit, every snide insult, and ever saucy aside from these classic skits, including "The Ministry of Silly Walks," "The Dead Parrot," "Banter in the Cheese Shop," "Spam, the Funniest Joke in the World," "The Spanish Inquisition," "The Argument Clinic," "The Fish-Slapping Dance," "The Lumberjack Song," and all the rest. Every script is thoroughly annotated with notes that cover the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical references touched upon in each sketch. Sidebars and commentary throughout include profiles of the principles -- Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and John Cleese -- and interviews with the cast and crew; fascinating facts about technical concerns, set design, and shooting locations; insider stores from on and off the set, including arguments, accidents, and practical jokes; goofs and gaffes; and much more. Also included are thousands of stills and artwork from the shows.

This is the definitive, the official, the most lavish, the completely-different-to-anything-done-before Pythons' autobiography, reissued to coincide with the eagerly-anticipated live shows. Over forty years ago, a group of five Englishmen - and one wayward American - rewrote the rules of comedy. MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS, an unheralded, previously unseen half-hour show of sketches, hilarities, inanities and animations, first appeared on the BBC late one night in 1969. Its impact has been felt on the world ever since. From its humble beginnings, it blossomed into the most influential movement in modern comedy. THE PYTHONS' AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY THE PYTHONS is a unique look at arguably the most important comic team of the modern age, with 64 pages of photographs, many culled from the team's own personal collections, many more seen for the first time. This is the definitive word on all things Pythonesque.

Graham Chapman is said to have been Monty Python's one true anarchist. Like his mentors Spike Milligan and Peter Cook, the man who portrayed the mistaken messiah in Life of Brian lived his life on and off stage with a sheer delight in madness for its own sake. 'I want to be a loony,' he said, 'it's quite an important thing.' Calcium Made Interesting contains everything from Graham Chapman's unpublished sketches and transcripts of his lecture tours to letters to his bank manager and reflections on his fellow Pythons and as a result offers a unique insight into the real Graham Chapman. Previously unpublished essays and notes help chart the life and times of a comic legend and include such gems as his reflections on how it feels to be crucified and his nostalgic memories of blowing up hotel rooms with his good friend Keith Moon. Funny and surreal, this collection captures the eclectic spirit of a true genius and confirms Graham Chapman's lasting impact on British comedy.