David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. The novel's full title is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account). It was first published as a serial in 1849–50, and as a book in 1850.
The novel features the character David Copperfield, and is written in the first person, as a description of his life until middle age, with his own adventures and the numerous friends and enemies he meets along his way. It is his journey of change and growth from infancy to maturity, as people enter and leave his life and he passes through the stages of his development.
David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. The novel's full title is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account). It was first published as a serial in 1849–50, and as a book in 1850.
The novel features the character David Copperfield, and is written in the first person, as a description of his life until middle age, with his own adventures and the numerous friends and enemies he meets along his way. It is his journey of change and growth from infancy to maturity, as people enter and leave his life and he passes through the stages of his development.
I have been thinking about reading this book for so many years, mostly because this is where one of my favourite bands took its name. This book is a proper memorabilia style book telling the story of coming of age and dealing with very very peculiar and curious people. The big unfortune that befalls upon master David from early days onwards is never ending, and life follows its twists and turns despite his best efforts to follow a good life. The book was quite frustrating due to the inability for David to do much about the wicked people he encountered especially in his early years. But overall the ending is more than I could have hoped for. And despite the many a pages this book contains, it was surprisingly enjoyable especially for a classic (does contain the occasional wth language).
Review of "Charles Dickens' David Copperfield" on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I've read a lot of Charles Dickens books but for some reason I hadn't read this one, so when Audible gave the audiobook away to subscribers of course I grabbed it. This is apparently a veiled autobiography of Dickens; it follows the life of David Copperfield, born to a happy family but sent away after his father's death and mother's remarriage to a life of poverty and hardship, still managing to pull himself up by determination and make a successful career of writing, through to a happy second marriage. In that sense it's an interesting read as many of the experiences and opinions of Copperfield can be read as Dickens' own commentary on the problems in society at that time. And like all Dickens' writings it clearly highlights the terrible issues with class disparity and poverty that many other books written at the time gloss over because they focus only …
I've read a lot of Charles Dickens books but for some reason I hadn't read this one, so when Audible gave the audiobook away to subscribers of course I grabbed it. This is apparently a veiled autobiography of Dickens; it follows the life of David Copperfield, born to a happy family but sent away after his father's death and mother's remarriage to a life of poverty and hardship, still managing to pull himself up by determination and make a successful career of writing, through to a happy second marriage. In that sense it's an interesting read as many of the experiences and opinions of Copperfield can be read as Dickens' own commentary on the problems in society at that time. And like all Dickens' writings it clearly highlights the terrible issues with class disparity and poverty that many other books written at the time gloss over because they focus only on the upper class experience.
Nonetheless, perhaps because it is somewhat autobiographical, I found its pacing less gripping than some of his other books, and honestly if it hadn't been an audiobook I would probably have struggled to finish it. Copperfield's early trials and tribulations as his father dies and he's sent away to a miserable boarding school are interesting, but once he runs away to get help from his aunt Betsy Trotwood the immediate urgency of his problems is removed and there seems to be a long period of just describing mostly contented life -- great for Copperfield, maybe less gripping narratively. The wrap up of the book in particular seems to be just one big long "happily ever after" narration that's more taking care of tying up loose ends and describing all the characters' happy endings.
Many of the characters in this book are delightful - from the caricatures of the villainous Murdstones and the ever 'umble Uriah Heep, to the loyal Peggottys, the constantly penniless Micawbers, and the loyal Tommy Traddles. Aunt Betsy Trotwood is in particular a wonderful character, an early feminist far before her time who is delightful in every interaction. However, watching Copperfield fall in love with and marry the utterly useless and brainless Dora is deeply frustrating, and Copperfield himself doesn't seem to come out of the story with as strong and clear a personality as others of Dickens' heroes in my opinion.
So overall, if you enjoy Dickens and particularly if you are interested in the autobiographical aspects this is a good book to dig into, but if you're just starting Dickens I would probably suggest starting elsewhere, probably Nicholas Nickleby or A Christmas Carol.
Review of "Charles Dickens' David Copperfield" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This must be the fifth or sixth time I've read David Copperfield since first encountering him at school nearly fifty years ago. Each reading has brought out different aspects of the book, illuminated by my own life experience. For me it's not Dickens best book ("Bleak House" is my pick) or indeed his best story (I'd go for "A Tale of Two Cities"), but it is a masterful weaving of narrative strands into a cohesive and ultimately satisfying whole, a success made all the more improbable because of the autobiographical nature of much of the material.
This must be the fifth or sixth time I've read David Copperfield since first encountering him at school nearly fifty years ago. Each reading has brought out different aspects of the book, illuminated by my own life experience. For me it's not Dickens best book ("Bleak House" is my pick) or indeed his best story (I'd go for "A Tale of Two Cities"), but it is a masterful weaving of narrative strands into a cohesive and ultimately satisfying whole, a success made all the more improbable because of the autobiographical nature of much of the material.
Review of "Charles Dickens' David Copperfield" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Haven't read Dickens in a long time and don't think I ever read this one. With an endless stream of fascinating, quirky, engaging characters (David Copperfield being the least interesting), it was the best book I've read in a long while. Such a pleasure to find an accessible, really long book that you can't put down!
Haven't read Dickens in a long time and don't think I ever read this one. With an endless stream of fascinating, quirky, engaging characters (David Copperfield being the least interesting), it was the best book I've read in a long while. Such a pleasure to find an accessible, really long book that you can't put down!
Review of 'Penguin Classics David Copperfield' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is Dickens' most personal novel, and therefore among his most important ones. The characters are unforgettable, and the author's trademark mixture of humor and drama is at its peak here (with the description of Copperfield's drunken escapades one evening still ranking among my personal top 5 comic scenes). In addition, Uriah Heep is certainly one of the most despicable and repulsive villains in the history of English literature.
This is Dickens' most personal novel, and therefore among his most important ones. The characters are unforgettable, and the author's trademark mixture of humor and drama is at its peak here (with the description of Copperfield's drunken escapades one evening still ranking among my personal top 5 comic scenes). In addition, Uriah Heep is certainly one of the most despicable and repulsive villains in the history of English literature.
The first half was fantastic, but I found it very boring after David grew up. There was no struggle any more--just love triangles and money problems. Unfortunately very anticlimactic. Would still recommend reading it, but the last half definitely left a lot to be desired.
Review of "Charles Dickens' David Copperfield" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Rereading this book was a fantastic experience. The first time I've ever cried in a book and it wasn't even at a 'sad' moment, it was the tender moments between Mr Dick and each of the Strong's.
Yes it's long and yes it's Dickens through and through: odd names, social class contrasts and a cast of thousands, but if a book can build characters and situations well enough to make me well up for the first time in 33 years it's doing something very right.
Plus, absolutely hilarious. I forgot how well Dickens can capture a character and a situation in the most witty way possible. If you can't relate to David Copperfields' first time getting drunk then you and I have lived very different lives.
Worthy of the prestige.
Rereading this book was a fantastic experience. The first time I've ever cried in a book and it wasn't even at a 'sad' moment, it was the tender moments between Mr Dick and each of the Strong's.
Yes it's long and yes it's Dickens through and through: odd names, social class contrasts and a cast of thousands, but if a book can build characters and situations well enough to make me well up for the first time in 33 years it's doing something very right.
Plus, absolutely hilarious. I forgot how well Dickens can capture a character and a situation in the most witty way possible. If you can't relate to David Copperfields' first time getting drunk then you and I have lived very different lives.
