Monty Python's Tunisian Holiday: My Life with Brian, a Memoir

In 1978, Kim “Howard” Johnson ran away to join the circus—Monty Python’s Flying Circus, that is. The Pythons converged on Tunisia to film their timeless classic, Life of Brian, and Howard found himself in the thick of it, doubling for nearly all the Pythons, playing more roles in the film than John Cleese, and managing to ruin only one shot. He became the unit journalist, substitute still photographer, Roman soldier, peasant, Biggus Dickus’s double, near-stalker, and, ultimately, friend and confidant of the comedy legends. He also kept a detailed journal of what he saw and heard, on set and off, throughout those six weeks.

Now, for the first time ever, the inside story of the making of the film is revealed through the fly-on-the-castle-wall perspective. Here, uncensored, are the legendary Pythons in their prime. It was a period of comedy history that will never be duplicated, and Monty Python’s Tunisian Holiday captures the wit, the genius, and the sheer silliness of the six men that comprised Python.

“If anyone can remember more about making the Life of Brian than me, it’s Kim Howard Johnson. He came, he saw, he got into costume. While the rest of us were fighting to upstage each other, Howard had a notebook hidden in his toga.” —Michael Palin

“Not only does Howard Johnson know more about Python than anyone outside of the IRS, he was . . . the only person who captured every thoughtless remark, heated exchange, embarrassing detail, petty insult, and spiteful act of indifference.” —John Cleese