Born into a theatrical family, Chaplin's father died of drink while his mother, unable to bear the poverty, suffered from bouts of insanity, Chaplin embarked on a film-making career which won him immeasurable success, as well as intense controversy. This autobiography constructs the poor London childhood and his prodigious life in the movies.

Art restorer and sometime spy Gabriel Allon is asked to visit Zurich, to clean the work of an Old Master for a millionaire banker. But when he gets there he finds the corpse of his client in a pool of blood beneath the masterpiece, and discovers that a secret collection of priceless paintings - stolen by Nazis in the war - is missing.

Features observations on life complemented by illustrations.

Set in 1820s Russia, this title follows the fates of three men and three women. It offers the reader many literary, philosophical, and autobiographical digressions, often in a highly satirical vein.