Charlie Chaplin: A Brief Life

author: Peter Ackroyd

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.71

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/11/13

date added: 2014/11/13

shelves: non-fiction

review:

'Charlie Chaplin: A Brief Life' by Peter Ackroyd has a title that confused me because I know Chaplin lived into his 80s. The title refers to the briefer depth that the book gives to the subject. With numerous other books on such a famous subject, the big question is do we need another one?



Most of the facts are here. Charlie's childhood in poverty. His early days on the stage, and eventual journey to Hollywood and fame. He was a comic genius and a troubled artist. He had a singular vision for what he wanted on the screen, and the kind of womanizing that led to scandals and headlines. He achieved a kind of fame that no one before him had, and towards the end of his life a kind of disdainful infamy where he was shunned by his adopted country for a time. In the end, he is remembered for an amazing body of work that endures.



Ackroyd's approach seems more of a lurid tell all at times. Charlie may have been an unpleasant person at times, but that seems to take the forefront over his film contributions. The films are mentioned, but the impression you are left with is that this was a tyrannical genius who should have stopped making movies shortly after sound came along. So, with many other Chaplin biographies available, I'm not sure this one sheds any more light on the subject than other works.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Doubleday Books, Nan A Talese and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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