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قصة حياتي

Charlie Chaplin,

كميل داغر (ترجمة)

3.95 · Rating details · 6,734 ratings · 531 reviews

يقول شابلن في تفسير اجتذابه ذلك القدر من العداء من جانب أميركيين كثيرين: "لقد كانت خطيئتي الكبرى ولا تزال أني غير امتثالي". وهو يعرف نفسه على الشكل التالي: "أنا ما أنا: فرد نسيج وحده ومختلف، خلفي كل ميراث الرغائب والحاجات السلفية، مع كل الأحلام والرغبات والتجارب الشخصية التي أنا محصلتها".
لقد شكل الرجل ظاهرة ملفتة للنظر إلى أبعد الحدود في مرحلة مهمة جداً من تطور المجتمع الأ يقول شابلن في تفسير اجتذابه ذلك القدر من العداء من جانب أميركيين كثيرين: "لقد كانت خطيئتي الكبرى ولا تزال أني غير امتثالي". وهو يعرف نفسه على الشكل التالي: "أنا ما أنا: فرد نسيج وحده ومختلف، خلفي كل ميراث الرغائب والحاجات السلفية، مع كل الأحلام والرغبات والتجارب الشخصية التي أنا محصلتها".
لقد شكل الرجل ظاهرة ملفتة للنظر إلى أبعد الحدود في مرحلة مهمة جداً من تطور المجتمع الأميركي بالذات، وذلك انطلاقاً من تجربته الخاصة ومعاناته الحميمة. وحين لاحقه القضاء الأميركي باتهامات كاذبة تتعلق بحياته الشخصية في أوائل الأربعينات، كان واضحاً أنه يجري بذلك تدفيعه ثمن أفكاره وخياراته الإنسانية. إلا أنه خرج من تلك المحاكمة منتصراً. والأهم من ذلك أنه شارك من موقعه كفنان عظيم في تحريك المياه الراكدة لمجتمع تغلب عليه، في المستوى السياسي، النزعة المحافظة. وهو ما يلمح إليه بالضبط حين يورد الكلام الذي قاله لاين فوشتفانجر، بعد ختام تلك المحاكمة مباشرة وصدور الحكم ببراءته مما نسب إليه: "أنت الفنان الدرامي الوحيد، الذي سيبقى في تاريخ الولايات المتحدة الأميركية، لأنه أثار التناقض السياسي لبلد بأكمله".
إن هذا "الفرد" الذي انطلق لعناق العالم بأسره من شوارع لندن الفقيرة، والقيعان المظلمة لطفولته البائسة، متقمصاً صورة المتشرد خفيف الظل، الذي ينكأ بسخريته الناعمة والمحببة قروح المجتمع والحياة، والذي استطاع كما يقولون أن يملأ الدنيا ويشغل الناس بطرافة فنه وعمق ملامسته للشخصية الإنسانية، والتزامه الدائم لقضايا الإنسان المعذب، كان بالتأكيد نسيج وحده. وهو لم يكن ممثلاً ومخرجاً وكاتباً سينمائياً فريداً وحسب، بل يمكن أن نضيف إلى ذلك أنه كاتب سيرة ذاتية بارع، وصاحب ريشة أدبية ملهمة، كما سنرى ونحن نقرأ هذا النص الجميل الطويل، "قصة حياتي"! ...more

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Paperback, 1st edition, 448 pages

Published 1994 by المركز الثقافي العربي (first published 1964)

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Mar 05, 2014 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, non-fiction, memoir, 20th-century, history, classics, british

My Autobiography, Charlie Chaplin

My Autobiography is a book by Charlie Chaplin, first published by Simon & Schuster in 1964.

Along with Chaplin: His Life and Art, it provided the source material for the 1992 feature film Chaplin. It provides a revealing look into the life of a 20th-century filmmaker and celebrity. The Chicago Tribune said the book was “The best autobiography ever written by an actor. An astonishing work.”

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز هفتم ماه جولای سال 1986میلادی

عنوان: سرگذشت من؛ نویس My Autobiography, Charlie Chaplin

My Autobiography is a book by Charlie Chaplin, first published by Simon & Schuster in 1964.

Along with Chaplin: His Life and Art, it provided the source material for the 1992 feature film Chaplin. It provides a revealing look into the life of a 20th-century filmmaker and celebrity. The Chicago Tribune said the book was “The best autobiography ever written by an actor. An astonishing work.”

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز هفتم ماه جولای سال 1986میلادی

عنوان: سرگذشت من؛ نویسنده: چارلز اسپنسر چاپلین؛ مترجم: جمشید نوایی؛ تهران، سهروردی، 1364؛ در 635ص؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، نشر قطره، 1368؛ 1371؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، نشر نی، 1382؛ در 725ص؛ شابک 9643126463؛ چاپ دیگر نشر نی 1386؛ شابک 9789643126469؛ موضوع نامه ها و یادبودها و سرگذشتنامه هنرپیشه ها و بازیگران سینما و کمدینها از نویسمدگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م

نقل از متن کتاب: هیچ ایده‌ ای درباره ی چهره‌ پردازی و لباسم نداشتم؛ لباسی را که در فیلم اول داشتم دوست نداشتم؛ به این نتیجه رسیدم که شلوار بگی گشاد بپوشم و کفش‌های بزرگ و کلاهی خاص بر سر بگذارم؛ می‌خواستم همه چیز با هم در تضاد باشند؛ کتی تنگ و کلاهی کوچک و کفشی بزرگ را برگزیدم؛ نمی‌دانستم باید پیر به نظر بیایم یا جوان؛ اما وقتی یاد حرف کارگردان افتادم، که می‌خواست کمی بزرگتر از آنچه هستم به نظر بیایم، پس یک سبیل اضافه کردم؛ نمی‌دانستم چه شخصیتی باید داشته‌ باشم، اما زمانی که لباس‌ها را پوشیدم، خودِ لباس‌ها احساسی به من داد، که شخصیت را دیدم، شروع به شناختنش کردم، و زمانی که به روی صحنه می‌رفتم، شخصیتم کاملاً متولد شده‌ بود؛ پایان نقل

روانش هماره شادمان و همیشه همراه با خیال هر نسیم و هر برگ و هر شکوفه که در بهاران هر دیار میدمند؛ درباره «چاپلین» نمیتوان نوشت؛ زیبایی حرکات و لبخنهای همراه با درد ایشان، هماره مرا مدهوش میکرد؛ روزی با دو دوست، به تماشای فیلم «دیکتاتور بزرگ» رفتیم؛ در سینما همه قهقهه میزدند، بغل دستی این فراموشکار، آنچنان میخندید، که از چشمانش اشک سرازیر شد؛ و چه زیباست به وقت سحر، آن غنچه ی سرخ، که تو آن را دیدی، و چه زیباست نسیم سحری، پشت پرچین گلی، که، به دیدار دلت میرفتی، و چه غمگین، که صبا از تو گذشت، کوچه آویخت به باد، ماه در برکه ی خوابش، چه شنائی میکرد؛ نوری از اوج فرود آمده بود، باغ را دیده، که اطراف سحر ریخته بود؛ آسمان سرخی شرمی که، ز خلوتگه شب، ساخته بود؛ چرخش آب به دامان سبوی دل کوه، چشمه انداخته بود؛ شوق، خود بود، همان شبنم اشکی، که به گل باخته بود؛ باز در آئینه، تماشا کردم، نور برقی ز دلی صاف، برآویخته بود؛ کوچه از راه گذشت، باز دنبال دلت میرفتی؛ هر قدم، عطر نفسهای همان غنچه ی سرخ؛ شوقِ پندار، سبویِ دلِ کوه؛ راهِ دیدار، همان برکه ی ماه؛ این دل، از دوریِ آن آینه رنجید، و لبخند زدید؛ روز، از بستر تاریک درآمد، چهره اش رنگین بود؛ سایه ها، گسترشِ آه شب، آهنگین بود؛ غنچه در بوته، به جایِ دل من رنگین بود؛ باز، رفتید و گذشتید از رود، باد ایام که برخاسته بود؛ آسمان معجری از خشم درانداخته بود؛ که چرا غنچه دمید؟ که چرا گل دیدید؟ که چرا کوچه نپیچید از راه؟ که چرا باد وزید؟ که چرا آینه بنمود تورا؟ که چرا روز آمد؟ که چرا غنچه ی دل غمگین بود؟ تو در آنجا بودی؛ باز گلبانگ سحر، باز هم غنچه ی سرخ؛ روانش شاد هدیه به روح بزرگوار هماره ماندنی آن یادگار هنر سده بیستم میلادی

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی ...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Stephen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: film, non-fiction, memoirs

Funny, warm, and sad, like a Chaplin movie. One of the great humanists of all time. The great irony is that while he was being criticised for being behind the times for continuing to make silent films after everyone else had converted to sound, his anti-Nazi socialist views were simply too ahead of his time for America, the country that accused him of being a communist and eventually kicked him out after he had given them so much. The only minor criticisms of his autobiography are that he writes ...more

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Jun 15, 2016 Simona rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history, biography

I love it when books are more than a good read.This one is a fantastic journey where Charlie Chaplin takes you by the hand and drags you through his life from 1889 London to the 20's and 30's in America all the way to 1977 when he died in Switzerland. And this is no ordinary life...it's history revealing itself in front of your eyes, it's better than any history book on that era, better that any art album or gossip magazine because it's all these at the same time and you find yourself right ther ...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Tess Burton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone who is a fan of Chaplin

Shelves: all-time-faves, my-reviews, biographical, historical, wwii

Charlie Chaplin's autobiography is a blatantly honest and beautifully written account of the most famous man in the world in the early 1900s. His ease with writing and the book's fantastic flow offer amazing juxtaposition with his account of the life of a pauper in 19th century London. You simply do not expect such eloquence from someone who was partially raised in a work-house and confessed he was mainly self-taught.
The stories of his youth were brilliantly told. They were moving, funny and alw ...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Andy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hollywoodbabylon, 20th-century-blues

This was a hard review to write because the cons add up as much to the pros. I'll start with the cons: Charlot perpetually waxes romantic about his royal friends (The Prince of Wales, The Marquis of Vienna, etc.), laden with so much elbow rubbing with blue bloods in an attempt to dispel his working class Little Tramp image.
He never once acknowledges his comedic peers in cinema at any point; you won't find anything about Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, etc. The only men ...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Barry Pierce rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, 20th-century

This is basically a guidebook on how to namedrop.

It starts off in late Victorian London and everything’s very… late Victorian. Then it’s a whole “star on the rise” story, very inspiring and whatnot. Then HOLLYWOOD, its trial and tribulations. Then fame. Then decline. Then Switzerland. The end. Did it teach me anything I didn’t already know about Charlie? No not really to be honest. You can tell that this is a severely edited version of Chaplin’s life. There’s some pretty big events and even movi ...more

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Jun 29, 2018 Steve rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, favorites, film

I'm way late reviewing this, but I'm not really sure I wanted to give it the full review treatment anyway. It is an autobiography (a very good one), so you get the authentic voice of Chaplin himself. But, as to be expected, you get fudging as well, particularly when it comes to the various ladies in Chaplin's life. Personally, I didn't need that all aired out, but it's interesting how Chaplin keeps making the mistake of marrying or dating actresses. Eventually, late in life, he marries Oona O'Ne I'm way late reviewing this, but I'm not really sure I wanted to give it the full review treatment anyway. It is an autobiography (a very good one), so you get the authentic voice of Chaplin himself. But, as to be expected, you get fudging as well, particularly when it comes to the various ladies in Chaplin's life. Personally, I didn't need that all aired out, but it's interesting how Chaplin keeps making the mistake of marrying or dating actresses. Eventually, late in life, he marries Oona O'Neil (Eugene's daughter), and they have a bunch of kids (some very talented). Chaplin clearly loves her, but even this late happiness has its complications, since Eugene O'Neil would disown Oona (who was only 18 when she married the 54 year old Chaplin). Chaplin never discusses this estrangement, and I suspect throughout the book there are number things that are danced around. That said, it's still a remarkable story. Chaplin's early years in London were like something from a Dickens' novel. Both his parents were actors and performers. His mother (who was mentally ill) struggled to raise Chaplin and his brother. She was committed to the asylum more than once, and the brothers had to do a couple of stints at the workhouse. Chaplin's father, who sounds like he was fairly talented, was also a drunk who would die young. Both brothers would gravitate toward the stage, and eventually make it to America, where a new kind of taking of acting -- films -- was just coming into being. (Chaplin was a genius, but he was also lucky.) Eventually things speed up, as Chaplin (and his Tramp persona) catch on. His ambitions grow, as does his art, and the great movies begin. I think it's about the midway point of the book that Chaplin first mentions the art of pantomime. He tells the reader he's very good at it, but then not much else. I would have liked to hear more about that. But Chaplin could also act in sound movies, but by the time those began, most of his great work was behind him. His sound movies, though quite good, were few and far between. And then Chaplin would eventually become something of a victim of the McCarthy era, at which point he pretty much shuttered his career and studio and moved to Switzerland with his growing family. I think what really struck me throughout the book is Chaplin's sense of Art, and what is True and Beautiful. Did he always have that? Or was it something that developed over the years? This Chaplin quote about the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlovna, says as much about his own heart and eye as it does the great dancer.

"The sublime is rare in any vocation or art. And Pavlova was one of those rare artists who had it. She never failed to affect me profoundly. Her art, although brilliant, had quality pale and luminous, as delicate as a white rose petal. As she danced, every move was the center of gravity. The moment she made her entrance no matter how gay or winsome she was, I wanted to weep, for she personified the tragedy of perfection." ...more

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Mar 17, 2014 John Frazier rated it liked it · review of another edition

Ultimately, this book was almost as frustrating as it was compelling. Perhaps most impressive is Chaplin's memory; I can't recall what I had for dinner last night, yet Chaplin is able to recall his youth and upbringing with startling clarity, especially given that there wasn't a whole lot worth remembering.

His plight and flight from the backstreets of London to his zenith as the biggest draw in movies is well articulated here, though what I found noticeably absent throughout was any real contemp Ultimately, this book was almost as frustrating as it was compelling. Perhaps most impressive is Chaplin's memory; I can't recall what I had for dinner last night, yet Chaplin is able to recall his youth and upbringing with startling clarity, especially given that there wasn't a whole lot worth remembering.

His plight and flight from the backstreets of London to his zenith as the biggest draw in movies is well articulated here, though what I found noticeably absent throughout was any real contemplation or consideration of the tremendous changes he'd undergone, if only in terms of the transition from extreme poverty to obscene wealth. Surely a man with such recollection can be more reflective and retrospective than Chaplin is here.

While his relationships with his mother and brother Sydney are also well chronicled in terms of place and time, there's little attention paid to his mother's insanity and the emotional toll it must've taken on everybody concerned. Perhaps his ability to provide the care and housing she needed for much of her later adult life obviated the need for much introspection; we'll never learn from this book.

And while Chaplin never received much formal education, much of this reads as though he had a "Word-A-Day" calendar that he was hell bent on putting to use; every now and then he should've broken out the thesaurus and opted for the more common synonym.

Another distraction is the virtually constant name-dropping. While I don't doubt that much of his time was spent with the regal, wealthy and otherwise famous, I was left with the impression that his contact with the common man was either minimal or unremarkable, both of which seem unlikely given his upbringing.

As detailed as this autobiography is, I still can't tell you how many wives and/or children The Little Tramp had. Intentional or not, this is a gross omission in such a tome.

Similarly, I'm left with little real understanding of why he was denied re-entry into the United States in the '50s. Sure, he made a couple of movies that suggested a socialist perspective, but surely there must've been something more to incur the wrath of the U.S government and FBI than he details here. Given that this was written well afterward while living in Switzerland (and virtually removed from any punitive measurements), I would've expected considerably more candor than we get here. Either that or he was simply and completely misunderstood for reasons I certainly can't fathom.

You cannot overestimate his achievements as an actor, writer, director, producer and musician (this last area hardly received any attention). This book makes me want see many of his films again (and others for the first time). That said, his efforts as an autobiographer fall disappointingly short. Proceed with caution. ...more

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May 26, 2018 Clarissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Funny, warm, sad, and honest.

What I've come to expect from Charlie Chaplin and more. ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Aria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Possibly the best auto-biography I've ever read. Definitely one of the best books I've read in a very long time. ---- Also, the U.S. is absurd. Some things never change. ...more

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Jun 25, 2014 Pavel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cinema, non-fiction

He divided this story of his life into three parts:
- First is the one about his childhood years in England. Years in total poverty, hunger and loneliness with his mother placed in mental health clinic, and his father never really played that role for him, he was living with another family and was a drunk. Nevertheless these years are depicted with the warmest humor and kindness, and it's becoming obvious where Chaplin was drawing his inspiration from for his all-time classic character - The Tram He divided this story of his life into three parts:
- First is the one about his childhood years in England. Years in total poverty, hunger and loneliness with his mother placed in mental health clinic, and his father never really played that role for him, he was living with another family and was a drunk. Nevertheless these years are depicted with the warmest humor and kindness, and it's becoming obvious where Chaplin was drawing his inspiration from for his all-time classic character - The Tramp.
- The Second part is his success story. Very vivid and fun at first when Chaplin depicts how he travelled to United States and made his way into silent cinema world, how he created The Tramp and how he started to direct his films. Later when he got to apogee of his glory , the book gets really boring, Long depictions of banquets and cocktail parties and early Hollywood intrigues and his love affairs and travels - all these were the least interesting for me,
- The third and the best part is a tragic story of persistent campaign against him as a communist (who he never was). It started when he was among activists who tried to persuade American Government to open Second Front and was showing his sympathy towards USSR which was fighting Hitler almost alone at that moment. It got much tougher after Monsier Verdoux, which was attacked by the press as "anti-capitalistic". He got under investigation by Un-American Activities Committee and in the end was banned from US. This whole thing was one awful mistake, he never was a communist and at the same time it tragically overlapped with his creative crisis - silent cinema has ended and although all his sound films were a success and a phenomenon for cinema as art, it is becoming clear from this autobiography how difficult and even painful the transition from silent to sound was for him.

I have an easy test, how to distinct sincere cinefile from a snub who just wants to seem like one. Ask if he or she likes The City Lights. True cinefile would have to love this film. I can't say this book is equal to Chaplin's work in cinema in any way, he pretty much lacks any literary talent. But it's written simply and entertaining, If you like Chaplin films just a little bit - I strongly recommend it. ...more

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May 05, 2020 Angela Cuéllar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, on-my-shelves

I love the power of comedy, the mystery of artists, and the ingenuity of early filmmaking. Charlie Chaplin is an icon for a reason and getting to read his autobiography, dive into who he was as a person beyond the performer and many characters he played on the silver screen, was fascinating. Definitely a recommend even if you don't normally read non-fiction! ...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Rajat TWIT rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A work of extraordinary genius, ‘My Autobiography’ is a conclusive work by the great artist proving his position of being called a maestro. This wonderful compilation of memories will make sure that the creator of Tramp will be remembered by his admirers forever, but not just through cinema. His brilliance continues in his auto-biography and his amazing sense of recalling his childhood memories are simply marvellous. His writing has depth in not just remembering the past but in also the way he p

A work of extraordinary genius, ‘My Autobiography’ is a conclusive work by the great artist proving his position of being called a maestro. This wonderful compilation of memories will make sure that the creator of Tramp will be remembered by his admirers forever, but not just through cinema. His brilliance continues in his auto-biography and his amazing sense of recalling his childhood memories are simply marvellous. His writing has depth in not just remembering the past but in also the way he presents the anecdotes. At many places this book is a thoughtful discourse on politics, science, war, society and philosophy in general. The little tramp has many things to share and he does that in a very subtle manner.
His remarkable life has been presented as it is, by the master raconteur offering his views and explanations on man of the rather controversial topics. Ranging from his financial deals, to his sexual encounters (in an very mature way), to his relationship with many females, to his depressing relationship with his mother, to his hatred towards a very confusing Nationalist approach of that time’s USA Government, he has elucidated all. Readers will specifically find his encounters and meetings with legends of early nineteenth century meeting with Chaplin. He has not only given detailed specifications of many meetings, but has also given personal appearances and behaviours of many legends. It was amusing to his meeting with the then PM of newly independent India Nehru and his daughter Indira.
The book is a vivid imagination by the famed artist to share his life with all. The language and many metaphors are simply brilliant and make you wonder why he didn’t try his hands in literature. The mention of Waterloo Bridge in initial pages is nothing short of poetry, and in his conclusive pages he describes it as ‘bridge that led to his boyhood’.
Emotions apart, Chaplin wrote this book with all seriousness. The way he was humiliated in his final days in US and its after math left a deep scar in the comedian’s heart. But he clarifies that this book is not apology. But it is his way of revealing his view point. Because this is a complex and a difficult man had many things going in his mind at a single time, and because he said that:
“Frankly, I enjoy my comedies even more than the audience.”

...more

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Feb 01, 2017 Sue Pit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

I found this autobiography by Charles Chaplin (first published in 1964) to be engrossing, resulting in my regaling various tales from it to those standing near by my presence....beware! But truly, I did feel immersed with interest from his tales from his Dickensian childhood to fame and to exile. Chaplin does not tell all (selective in the telling) and one, if interested as I was, may have to google to glean further information; some stories from his life remain something of a mystery. There is ...more

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Mar 14, 2016 Haneen Najeh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books

One of the best books I've ever read or even listened to .. I liked the style of writing and the way that Charley is talking about his story.. It is wonderful and I am happy to read it and to have that experience with such book :) ...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Ben rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have a tremendous, unparalleled respect for Charlie Chaplin as an artist and filmmaker, having seen and loved most of his films and having read some biographies on him in the past. That said, I wavered between giving this work three stars at times and five stars at other times - four was a happy compromise. Parts of the book were very slow and dry and there was a good deal missing -- a bit too much about his boyhood in London, barely a mention of his marriage to Lita Grey, no discussion of "Th ...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Victoria Klein rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-favorites-memoir

Anyone with a genuine interest in movies knows the name Charlie Chaplin. By any measurement, he had a very successful career, vibrant social life, and emotional personal life. In addition to being an actor, writer, director, producer, and composer, he was also an author. All of his books were about various aspects of his life & career, but the most notable is My Autobiography, published in 1964.

Written nearly 20 years before Charlie Chaplin passed away, the book is an engaging and passionate rec ...more

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Sep 10, 2016 Hanadi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Charlie Chaplin is such a lovable character and his autobiography made me like him even more and realize who was that genius behind the cameras
Who would've thought that the funny little man that we see on screen went through all that difficulty and hardship ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Vidur Sharma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I do not know who recommended me this book or what made me read it, probably cos Mr Chaplin was a funny & dignified personality.
Im in unexplainable love with the book partially because how simply and with utter truthfulness he narrated his life which was rather a tough ladder to climb from being rags to riches and partially cos I never thought that behind all his humor and satire, he rather lived a life which demanded so many catechism.

His autobiography slides through many interesting occasio ...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Emily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

If you are any kind of fan of cinema and how it got it start this is an excellent read. You don't necessarily need to be a huge fan of Chaplin to enjoy this book. So many insights into the Golden Age of Hollywood. Truly made me wish I had lived during this time, but since I didn't I still try to find ways to imagine and enjoy what used to be. ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Alina Maria Cristea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The autobiography of a genius. Funny and sad, just like his movies...

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Apr 01, 2014 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

For about the first ¾ of this book, I was enthralled. Chaplin’s ability to recall and relate his earliest memories astounded me. I mean, he told very detailed stories about his life when he was a wee lad of four, and I can’t even remember what I ate for dinner two nights ago? Impressive! (Side note: yes, I’m taking his memories at face value, as David Robinson’s Introduction asks readers to do. If Chaplin is claiming to vividly remember whole conversations from forty or fifty years past, and if ...more

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Apr 17, 2020 Meg rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-book-hoarder-reading-challenge, autobiographies-memoirs

FINALLY finished My Autobiography by Charlie Chaplin! (Checked it out in early March) I chose this book because I had always wanted to read it just because I’m a fan of Chaplin’s work. That being said, this book gave so many outside anecdotes about his life that I found myself not really caring towards the end. I wanted more about how he made his movies and ended up with just some of those anecdotes. (Thinking I may need to grab “My Life in Pictures” instead!) It dragged on mainly because he had ...more

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Jul 22, 2020 Katheryn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I bought this book years ago to start a thesis that I never finished. It may not be enough just to describe it as good or bad. I consider it as an interesting testimony of a difficult life through his own words, especially when he mentions his early years as a film artist. I think if you really want to know Chaplin, you just need to watch his movies. All of them.

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Jul 12, 2020 Akshay Singh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great to know the artist beyond the screen. Lived a full life and spoke his mind. Loved by millions, and a pioneer.

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Sep 17, 2019 Blarion Sam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

When a figure bigger than life explains the simplicity of himself and his life.

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Mar 31, 2020 Todd Wilhelm rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Charlie Chaplin Conversation with his mother:

She paused. “If only you had put your talent in the service of the Lord - think of the thousands of souls you could have saved.”

I smiled. “I might have saved souls but not money.”

Charlie Chaplin, My Autobiography page 286

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Feb 19, 2017 Joost rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well written account of a life that spanned two world wars, the birth of cinema and an incredible career.

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May 31, 2018 Tynan Rollo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Learning about the man behind a character that I have embodied so many times was fascinating. His upbringing was and how he got started in film were incredibly well written, however in the middle of the book it felt a bit like a list of people he met along the way.

At one point he describes his view on theatre, on Shakespeare, and on art in general, and my take away from all of this was that he had a vision. A strong and clear idea of what he wanted art, theatre, and comedy to be.

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Jan 29, 2019 Ira Therebel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: art, biography-memoirs, non-fiction

I knew nothing about Charlie Chaplin, not even what he looks like without his costume. I can't even say I saw much of his work, black and white silent movies are a bit of a challenge for me to watch (although now after having read it I really want to see some of them). But Charlie Chaplin was still an icon for me, somebody who represents comedy in the beginning of the cinema.

His autobiography was a great read. I was expecting a chapter on his childhood but it went for multiple chapters and pret I knew nothing about Charlie Chaplin, not even what he looks like without his costume. I can't even say I saw much of his work, black and white silent movies are a bit of a challenge for me to watch (although now after having read it I really want to see some of them). But Charlie Chaplin was still an icon for me, somebody who represents comedy in the beginning of the cinema.

His autobiography was a great read. I was expecting a chapter on his childhood but it went for multiple chapters and pretty detailed. It was indeed very interesting and showed us how he became who he was later in life. The beginning of his career with theater was also a great part of the book as well as us finding out how he ended up in USA.

As a movie fan I loved reading about his beginnings with the movies because it also tells us how the movie industry pretty much began and what it was like back then. The switching from silent movies to the ones with sound including his own worries and challenges during this time was another great part for anyone interested in movie history.

I was slightly bored by his social life. I don't mind the name dropping. I mean, he is Charlie Chaplin, of course these are the people he was socializing with. But I didn't recognize most of these names so it wasn't that much of interest to me how he had dinner with them so I was rushing through them. But these parts also had some interesting little stories.

The political atmosphere of the times during WW2 and him creating The Great Dictator was another part of the book worth reading. As I said I didn't know anything about him so I had no idea that he had trouble in America because of accusations that he was a communist. This kind of shows what times were like. But I must say I was a bit surprised how much he liked USSR. Out of curiosity I searched about his views of Stalin and apparently he refused to acknowledge that Stalin was a dictator. This is a bit disappointing but it is his business and I also wonder how many details he knew, after all people as he mentions in the book didn't even know about concentration camps for a long time. Anyways, this is actually irrelevant, just some thoughts the book inspired.

But what matters was that he is an artist whom everyone knows and the book he wrote about himself as a human as well as an artist is really fascinating. One doesn't have to be a Chaplin fan to really enjoy it, any movie fan would find the book interesting. ...more

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About Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

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Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comedian actor and film director. Chaplin became one of the most famous actors as well as a notable filmmaker, composer and musician in the early to mid Classical Hollywood era of American cinema. He was famous also for his great sense of humor and slapstick comedy skills. ...more

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Quotes from مذكرات شارلي شابلن

“Like everyone else I am what I am: an individual, unique and different, with a lineal history of ancestral promptings and urgings; a history of dreams, desires, and of special experiences, all of which I am the sum total.” — 279 likes

“All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman, and a pretty girl.” — 59 likes

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