Charlie Chaplin continues to entertain and inspire people around the world. A rigorous reference book on the man and his filmmaking is long overdue, especially for the general public. Fawell begins this volume with a 15-page chronology. The introduction summarizes Chaplin’s life, his personae, and his societal context and influence. The main part of the book consists of an alphabetical list of entries on individuals, films, and themes that range in length from a paragraph to five pages; most entries include see-also references. The author focuses on aspects of Chaplin’s art: his filmmaking style, the mechanics of his comedy, his expressive satire, his composing, and his companions. He also gives more room to earlier films to counterbalance later, more well-known films. Besides the entries on major films, mention is given to less obvious topics. A filmography, notes, and an extensive bibliography conclude the volume. Fawell’s writing is accessible, analytical, and well cited, and the two-column layout facilitates reading the dense text. This book will intrigue film enthusiasts.
