Arthur Dandoe must be spinning in his grave. His memoir's cover bears an image not of him in one of his many memorable roles, bestriding the stage as audiences roar with delight, but of Charlie Chaplin, the treacherous mimic who'd steal a man's girl or routine with barely a thought.

England's richly enjoyable tale of music hall skulduggery is set in the early years of the 20th century, as his hero Dandoe flees Cambridge and finds success with Fred Karno's famous theatrical troupe. Much of the fun comes from the setting, and The Fun Factory is packed with intriguing details about a vanished world of entertainment, including sketches such as "The Wontdetainia", whose centrepiece was a gigantic ocean liner, made of sheet metal and packed with extras, and "The Football Match", which combined comic actors and professional footballers. On his way up fame's slippery pole, Dandoe travels around the theatres of Britain, falls in love with beautiful Tilly Beckett, performs with the amiable Stan Laurel and uncovers corruption and infidelity. But the ruthless Chaplin hogs the stage in this evocative and brilliantly readable debut. James Smart

• To order The Fun Factory for £8.99 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846.