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

Richard Carr’s Charlie Chaplin explains how Chaplin’s life, both on and off the screen, was constantly politically engaged. Chaplin made a number of political films, from the capitalism bashing Modern Times to the anti-war ethos of The Great Dictator and Monsieur Verdoux. But these films were only the tip of the iceberg. Chaplin believed that he could cure the world of intolerance and economic depression and was able to discuss his ideas with some of the leading thinkers of his day. This work, in surveying Chaplin’s life from Lambeth to Los Angeles, places the politics centre-stage. Charlie Chaplin is essential reading for all students of 20^th century history.

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.