“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.”
― Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
If you have forgotten how much you love Dickens and how long it has been since you read the famous Oliver Twist, Christmas Carol & Tale of Two Cities, it is time to open gorgeously written David Copperfield. The story traces life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity.
In this novel, I loved how vividly the characters were described. In case, you aren’t too fond of David (who is sometimes a bit senseless), you will find some character whom you will like or love. Additionally, there are some characters you won’t like or whom you will even hate. Personally, I enjoy a bit more reading a book that has various memorable characters.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.”
― Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
The narrator of the book is David as his older self. Novel is written as if it was diary where David remembers his boyhood. Sometimes the titles of the chapters portray the chapter and what happens to David: I am born, I fall into Disgrace, I make another Beginning, I fall into Captivity, another times the titles can also consist of one word: Depression, Intelligence, Tempest, Absence remaining just as expressive.
I found David Copperfield to be quite sad book though at same time it was still full with adventure and had it’s attempts of humour every once in a while.
I’d give this book 9½/10
How-To Read David Copperfield or The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (which he never meant to publish on any account)
1. You can download this book for free on Project Gutenberg, GoodReads, Smashwords (and various other pages). You can also find in audio form on many pages.
2. Find the one with pictures, it makes reading more enjoyable.
3. Another (lovely) brick of a book. If you don’t like long books and this is your first Charles Dickens, read slightly shorter Oliver Twist.
4. I would recommend to read this book slowly, for example 30-50 pages every day, then pause for a week. This gives you time to be drawn into the story and the characters (and the enjoyment lasts longer) and not to discard it off as dull.
5. If you like books that are written like they were diaries of that character, you will love David Copperfield.
6. If you love Charles Dickens, Victorians & descriptive novels, don’t miss this!
7. There are several movie adaptations you might want to see.
“I know enough of the world now to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything”
― Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
What Charles Dickens book is your favorite and why?
Great review! I’ve had David Copperfield sitting on my shelves for a few years now, but your review has inspired me to perhaps try it in the winter months :) My favourite Dickens is Little Dorrit. It was the first that I read by him, and still remains my favourite.
Thank you ^^ Copperfield is very enjoyable I think, it took me quite long time to read it though. I think it would be perfect to start now on winter months :) Little Dorrit is my favorites too
I don’t know how long it’s been since I read Dickens. (and I don’t think I’ve ever read this one) I like the chapter titles and that it’s written when he knows how it all turns out. (also means he survives) I would’ve picked A Christmas Carol based on the books, but it’s so over done in movies and tv.
:) Hope you’ll read and enjoy DC.
Christmas Carol is good but I’ve grown to dislike it because it has some kind of hype around it. Of course all Dickens’ books have been turned into overly many tv series and films.
I know it’s not an obvious choice, but of the ones half a dozen of his I’ve read, I would say Hard Times.
:) Definitely not. I haven’t read Hard Times, I will look into that
What are you reading at the moment?
:) The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski
I do need to read more book series.
You sound a bit like you’re in a reading slump? :D
Not a slump as such, but I am wary about committing to a series at the moment. I do miss the days I could read two books a week mind.
Aaa, I used to read way more books than I do now too. Guess I should read more but I’m kind of lazy o.O and victim of easier entertainment
Dickens is most definitely one of my favs!
I think comment 4 should apply to ALL Dickens, though maybe a week is just a tad too long between sessions. I wrote my own review “A Favourite Child” almost exactly a year ago and, as I remarked at the end “Now I share the common opinion. Copperfield is one of Dickens’s best novels, perhaps even the best of all.” My opinion hasn’t changed.
Yes, you are definitely right about point 4. Hmmm week might be too long. Although maybe in week the reader will miss Copperfield so much that they won’t put it down for so long again :D
I love Oliver Twist. The first chapter is one of my favorite book beginnings ever. I still haven’t gotten around to reading David Copperfield, but I really want to. The edition in the pictures looks gorgeous.
:) Oliver Twist is my favorites also though it’s kind of hard not to like it. David Copperfield, out of all Dickens books has that something for me. Ahaha, that edition is fun, it was basically size of my hand and I usually prefer reading normal size books (but it did have golden pages and pictures) Thanks for commenting ^^
I actually don’t think I’ve read this one. I love Tale of Two Cities but not overly convinced if I love Dickens…