Bert Fegg's Nasty Book for Boys and Girls

Bert Fegg's Nasty Book for Boys and Girls is a 1974 comedy book written by Monty Python members Terry Jones and Michael Palin. The book presents itself as an educational text written by the fictional Dr. Bert Fegg, a psychopath whose violent tendencies are constantly at odds with his publishers. The format parodies children's educational books and annuals, featuring short stories, comic strips, games, and mock advertisements. The narrative includes running commentary from both Dr. Fegg and his publishers, with the doctor's notes appearing as handwritten scrawls across the pages. The book incorporates Python's signature absurdist humor, featuring recurring elements like the West Bromley Fighting Haddock and references to "the Bournemouth Killings." Multiple British illustrators contributed artwork to support the text and enhance its satirical elements. The work stands as a critique of educational publishing and children's literature, using dark humor and parody to subvert the conventions of traditional instructional materials.

Readers nostalgic for this book often remember it from their childhood in the 1970s and recall its irreverent, dark humor. Many note its similarity to Monty Python's style of comedy. Liked: - Absurd illustrations and diagrams - Mix of silly and macabre content - Section about killing animals in creative ways - Character of Bert Fegg himself - Random factoids and pseudo-educational content Disliked: - Some found it too dark or disturbing - Humor feels dated - Hard to find copies now - Quality of reproductions/reprints Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (156 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.3/5 (15 ratings) Sample review: "A wonderful piece of nonsense that shaped my sense of humor as a child. The fake adverts and violent endings to seemingly innocent stories are brilliant." - Goodreads user Several readers mention lending or losing their copies and spending years trying to track down replacements.

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🔸 The book began as a compilation of material from "Do Not Adjust Your Set," a children's TV show that featured both Terry Jones and Michael Palin before their Monty Python days 🔸 West Bromley Fighting Haddock, a recurring element in the book, became a minor cult phenomenon, with some fans creating fan art and references to this fictional fish species in other media 🔸 The book's first edition in 1974 caused minor controversy in some British schools, where it was briefly banned for its subversive take on educational materials 🔸 At least three different versions of the book exist, with varying content and illustrations - the American version notably toned down some of the more absurdist British humor 🔸 Several of the illustrators who contributed to the book went on to work on prominent British children's books and magazines, including publications by Penguin Books