Synopses & Reviews
See him? That little tramp twitching a postage stamp of a mustache, politely lifting his bowler hat, and leaning on a bamboo cane with the confidence of a gentleman? A slapstick comedian, he blazed forth as the brightest movie star in the Hollywood heavens.
Everyone knew Charlie—Charlie Chaplin.
When he was five years old he was pulled onstage for the first time, and he didn't step off again for almost three-quarters of a century. Escaping the London slums of his tragic childhood, he took Hollywood like a conquistador with a Cockney accent. With his gift for pantomime in films that had not yet acquired vocal cords, he was soon rubbing elbows with royalty and dining on gold plates in his own Beverly Hills mansion. He was the most famous man on earth—and he was regarded as the funniest.
Still is. . . . He comes to life in these pages. It's an astonishing rags-to-riches saga of an irrepressible kid whose childhood was dealt from the bottom of the deck. Abundantly illustrated.
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“Fleischman does the story of Houdini justice with an accessible, witty, and fascinating ride that is sure to draw in the skeptical and the admiring alike.” Bulletin of the Center for Children & #8217;s Books (starred review)
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Praise for The Trouble Begins at 8:“Highly enjoyable . . . No worthier Twain bio will cross a childs path than this feisty tale.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Engaging.” School Library Journal (starred review)
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“A feat thats pure magic.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Sets a standard few can meet: it is top-notch entertainment.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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Praise for Escape!:“[Fleischmans] rendering of the great Houdini is full-bodied and fresh, exuberant yet probing, meticulous and, yes, magical.” San Francisco Chronicle
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“[A] standout portrait.” Booklist (starred review)
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“Delightful and informative…this book is as good-looking as it is well written.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Fleischmans unabashed adoration for the duck-footed comedian, filmmaker and movie star effervesces from this fascinating, generously illustrated biography.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“A book as entertaining as Sir Charlie himself.” School Library Journal (starred review)
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“A solid success.” Bulletin of the Center for Children & #8217;s Books
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“Will appeal to fans of movie history and surely inspire readers to seek out Chaplins films.” Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)
About the Author
Since his autobiography,
The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life, was published in 1996, Sid Fleischman has been stealing the spotlight with his exuberant brand of nonfiction.
Sir Charlie: Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World is Fleischman's fourth true tale, following the widely acclaimed
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West and the best-selling
Escape! The Story of The Great Houdini.
Fleischman's books have been made into films, performed as plays, and translated into nineteen languages. The author was awarded the Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy. His most recent novel is The Dream Stealer.