My Autobiography

Charles Chaplin

Apr 2003 · Penguin UK

About this ebook

Born into a theatrical family, Chaplin's father died of drink while his mother, unable to bear the poverty, suffered from bouts of insanity, Chaplin embarked on a film-making career which won him immeasurable success, as well as intense controversy. His extraordinary autobiography was first published in 1964 and was written almost entirely without reference to documentation - simply as an astonishing feat of memory by a 75 year old man. It is an incomparably vivid reconstruction of a poor London childhood, the music hall and then his prodigious life in the movies.

Ratings and reviews

A book of two halves. The first few chapters illustrate his poverty striken background and his mother's mental illness. Once he was famous there are far too many anecdotes about whose parties he went to. Shameless name dropping everywhere. There is a tendency to include words (no doubt correctly used) that have to be looked up for a meaning. Rather than a description, there is a reference to a painting or sculpture assuming the reader knows what he's on about. I wanted more Charlie and his life and far less about the parties he went to and the names of the famous people he met.

Try to open any page of the book, exactly like if you meet someone for first time in real life - also without knowledge of his past and future. Once you like the person, you can always open this book anywhere again and again. Reading this book by random is adventure.

big fan of Charlie Chaplin

About the author

CHARLES CHAPLIN [1889-1977] was one of the greatest of all filmmakers and comedians.

DAVID ROBINSON is the author of CHAPLIN: HIS LIFE AND ART (also published by Penguin)