Charlie Chaplin and His Times

This is a very long book, because as its title suggests, it is more than just a biography of arguably the most famous actor of all time, but also of the burgeoning movie industry in general, the communist movement in America, a little of both World Wars, and surprisingly detailed asides about the large number of famous (or, more often, later-to-be-famous) people who wandered in and out of Chaplin's life. Because of that, I don't think you have to be a big Charlie Chaplin fan to enjoy this book. (I confess I've never seen any of them all the way through, though after reading this book I'd like to.) From a century away, it's easy to forget that so many what are now cinematic stereotypes originated during Chaplin's prime. The films are show more described beautifully, and while the subject is clearly admired for his contributions to art, this is no fawning accolade. Like all geniuses, Chaplin was a complicated man, often unpredictable and hard to work with. But in the end, his work remains a stunningly important chapter in the history of film, and this book is a very interesting, readable, and enjoyable exploration of that chapter's central character. show less