Python Text Adventure Authoring System

[Zachary]

Hello,
I've recently thought of how ideal Python is for the development of what
used to be called text adventures.  In case any of you don't know, these
were basically sort of a computer game in which the player guided the story
by typing in natural language commands, e.g. get ball.
Some popular games of the 1980's include Zork, A Mind Forever Voyaging,
among others.
I was just wondering if anyone has any module that might help in the
implementation of a text parser, something to read player commands.
My idea is to have each room, item, creature, etc.  Be represented as a
Python instance.
For example, the following code might setup a room class:
class room:
    def __init__(self, rdesc, exit):
        self.desc = rdesc
#Add Other code here

If anyone has any idea how this might be done, I would love to hear from
you.
P.S:
I have already seen another text adventure development system written in
Python, called Paws.  I thought this would be a sort of first project.