In the fourth volume of his widely acclaimed diaries Sir Michael Palin - comedian, actor, writer, broadcaster, BAFTA Fellow and all-round national treasure – reflects with warmth and empathy on the first decade of the millennium. He documents the successive shocks of 9/11, the 7/7 London bombings, the war in Iraq and the global financial crash, alongside his feelings on losing his great friend George Harrison and seeing the last of his children leave home.

He also reflects on his determination to avoid routine and repetition and to embrace new challenges as he takes on four major new travel series and a number of documentaries.

Through successes and setbacks we meet a man grasping every opportunity in a phenomenally varied life and embarking on his greatest adventure yet – becoming a grandfather.

‘…. it’s his attention to the mundane, above all, that makes his diaries so enjoyable to read.’ The Telegraph

‘…a social history of Britain…..told with unflagging empathy and wit.’ Jonathan Coe, Observer