gistfile1.py

def todict(obj, classkey=None):
    if isinstance(obj, dict):
        for k in obj.keys():
            obj[k] = todict(obj[k], classkey)
        return obj
    elif hasattr(obj, "__iter__"):
        return [todict(v, classkey) for v in obj]
    elif hasattr(obj, "__dict__"):
        data = dict([(key, todict(value, classkey)) 
            for key, value in obj.__dict__.iteritems() 
            if not callable(value) and not key.startswith('_')])
        if classkey is not None and hasattr(obj, "__class__"):
            data[classkey] = obj.__class__.__name__
        return data
    else:
        return obj