A Comedian Sees the World

On February 13, 1931, Charlie Chaplin left New York to tour Europe and Asia and promote City Lights (1931). He returned to the United States on June 16, 1932. Contracted by Woman's Home Companion to write a 50,000-word manuscript in serial form, Chaplin produced “A Comedian Sees the World,” five installments detailing his tour. Until Lisa Stein Haven's 2014 edition of A Comedian Sees the World, these installments had not been published in book form (11). The collection of these pieces in a single book alone warrants its contribution to scholarship on Chaplin, but readers will also value Chaplin's tour narrative for his descriptions of meetings with politicians, writers, celebrities, and world leaders; for his commentary on politics, economics and art; for his humorous and moving retelling of events; and for his writing style. Moreover, Haven's meticulous research and insightful commentary enhance the reading of the narrative and show...