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Table of Contents
About The Book
'The world's greatest silent comedian finds his voice in French Indochina.' Indochina, 1936: Charlie Chaplin and his co-star and lover, Paulette Goddard, are on vacation in Asia following the release of the global superstar's silent masterpiece, Modern Times. Evading the press in Phnom Penh, he is inspired to work on a new film idea – imagining his iconic alter ego, the Tramp, in the colonial rubber plantations. But Charlie Chaplin's presence in the French protectorate has encouraged Cambodians to speak out for real against colonial exploitation and the authorities are nervous about his visit. As the middle-aged filmmaker grapples with his creativity and his conscience, a deepening friendship with a Cambodian comic actor and anti-colonial communist eventually forces him to choose between lending his celebrity status to their cause or keeping silent. Fictionalised around real events, Charlot is a story about how an embittered Charlie Chaplin abandons his silent Tramp in order to find his own voice in the politically turbulent 1930s.
Product Details
- Publisher: Monsoon (July 1, 2023)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781915310132
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Raves and Reviews
Charlie Chaplin did not just want to make people laugh, he wanted to make them think and 'Charlot' does the same. Richly atmospheric, it explores the struggle between the two sides of his character as it emerges on his journey through colonial Cambodia of the 1930s. Sensitive, articulate and impeccably researched, it restores fresh humanity to the man behind the mask of the Tramp.
– Nigel Barley, Author
A brilliant feat of imagination – reconstructing an episode from Charlie Chaplin's life and exploring its ramifications in a wholly fascinating and convincing way. An incredibly impressive debut.
– William Boyd, Author
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Charlot
eBook 9781915310132
