The definitive and monumental biography of Chaplin, first published in 1985, and now in its second edition. Plagued by loneliness and driven by the search for artistic perfection, Chaplin's life was an extraordinarily dramatic one. Robinson exploresthe tragic story of Chaplin's alchoholic father; his mentally distubed mother; his marriages to very young women; the 'white slavery' case against him; and his persecution by anti-Communist forces during the McCarthy era which ultimately forced Chaplin to leave America.

David Robinson is one of the most widely respected film critics and historians in the world. His many books include WORLD CINEMA, HOLLYWOOD IN THE TWENTIES and BUSTER KEATON. He writes for the Times.