‘David Copperfield’ is considered by many critics to be the finest work of legendary English novelist Charles Dickens and a masterpiece of English literature. The story chronicles the early adventures of its title character and the plot closely mirrors the real-life youth of Dickens himself. From surviving the abuse of his evil stepfather to befriending the hapless and kindly pauper Mr. Micawber and his family, David’s life is an endless series of setbacks, triumphs, betrayals, heartbreak and, ultimately becomes a lesson in redemption and hope. One of the most popular books of its era, ‘David Copperfield’ has been adapted to the stage and screen numerous times and is presented here in its original and unabridged format.
About the author
Charles Dickens was born February 7, 1812 in Landport, Portsmouth, the second of eight children to John and Elizabeth Dickens. Dickens’ father had great difficulty managing his affairs and was often under the burden of crushing debt, which culminated in his imprisonment in Marshalsea debtor’s prison in 1824. As a result, Dickens was forced to leave school and begin work at a boot-blacking factory to assist in getting the family out of debt, an experience that would allow Dickens to sympathize with the plight of the poor and destitute that would last his entire life. Dickens took to writing immediately and, in 1833, he published his first story: A Dinner at Popular Walk in Monthly Magazine. The following year, he began writing under the pseudonym Boz and released a collection of short stories entitled Sketches by Boz in 1836. That same year he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of the editor of the Evening Chronicle. They had 10 children before they separated in 1858. From 1836 to 1837, Dickens serialized what would become the novel The Pickwick Papers, which was an immediate sensation and became one of his most popular works, released in book form in 1837. Encouraged by this success, Dickens began writing at a furious and astonishing rate, producing (in serial form) some of his most favorite novels: Oliver Twist (1837-39), Nicholas Nickleby (1838-39), as well as The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge (1840-41). After that, Dickens barely paused for the rest of his career. He would regularly release a book ever year or so for the next two decades, including American Notes, his five Christmas Books (including, of course, A Christmas Carol), David Copperfield, Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations. Charles Dickens suffered a stroke on June 9, 1870 at died at Gad’s Hill. Buried in the Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey.