“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?
