Charlie Chaplin: A Political Biography from Victorian Britain to Modern America

by Richard Carr

Richard Carr’s Charlie Chaplin places politics at the centre of the filmmaker’s life as it looks beyond Chaplin’s role as a comedic figure to his constant political engagement both on and off the screen. Drawing from a wealth of archival sources from across the globe, Carr provides an in-depth examination of Chaplin’s life as he made his way from Lambeth to Los Angeles. From his experiences in the workhouse to his controversial romantic relationships and his connections with some of the leading political figures of his day, this book sheds new light on Chaplin’s private life and introduces him as a key social commentator of the time. Whether interested in Hollywood and Hitler or communism and celebrity, Charlie Chaplin is essential reading for all students of twentieth-century history.

Genres: Biography

286 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2017

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars for this detailed look at the development of Charlie Chaplin’s politics over the course of his life seen through details of his personal life and creative output. The amount of time it took me to read this book is not indicative of the quality of the writing! I just took a very long break to get obsessed with something else, as is my way!