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BOOK REVIEW: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is considered to be the most closest work resembling Dickens life. It is autobiographical. is the story of a young man’s adventures on his journey from an unhappy and impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist.

There is a funny anecdote related to this book. At the time when I was reading David Copperfield, a friend of mine tells me that the first book Sigmund Freud gave his fiancee, Martha Bernays, on their engagement in 1882. At the moment, I wanted to question his anecdote but I thought it otherwise. I said to myself, ‘Why not read this 900 pages book and find the answer to that ‘why’ myself?’ And indeed I did.

The first half of the novel begins with the childhood of David Copperfield. The childhood starts of with his father’s death only when he is three years old. His mother, very young, pretty, and inexperienced, raises the boy with the help of her loyal maid, Clara Peggoty. Things go well, young David is growing up in a happy, loving home until his mother marries again. David’s stepfather, believes that firmness is the only way of dealing with boys. He ends up sending Davy away to a boarding school run by a cruel schoolmaster.

When David’s mother dies, Mr. Murdstone decides that even this kind of education is too good for his stepson and promptly gets rid of him by sending him to London, to work at a blacking factory. David is only ten when that happens. After many trials, he decides to run away and search for his aunt who eventually adopts him.

The second half of David Copperfield displays Dickens at his best. A reader will certainly adore and admire Dickens writing manner. The most solid foundation of the book, I consider are the characters. Dickens typically seems to employ static characters to represent the good and bad elements of life and nature. Every character is given his own distinctive and instantly recognizable voice. Some of them are timeless including the Copperfield himself.

As the story picks up and becomes more complicated, with David Copperfield establishing himself in business, falling in love, breaking friendships, and traveling abroad, the language weave an interesting web around him and his journey, one which connects the reader to David and encourages him to come along, to see what happens, to experience what David was experiencing. If more, Dickens draws revealingly on his own experiences to create this story with equal measure of tragedy, and comedy. The last hundred pages become a drag as Dickens closes on various characters lives along with the protagonist and narrator, David Copperfield. Though the conclusion is satisfying enough. There is no doubt David Copperfield is one of the best work of Charles Dickens.

4 out of 5

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Sharron says: August 3, 2017 at 10:34 PM Well written and succinct.
madhunanr says: August 5, 2017 at 4:15 PM Sir could i send you my book?
Shreya Madhusudan says: August 20, 2017 at 7:21 PM Like you said, this book is one of dicken's best works! It was actually the first book that introduced me to the vast world of his novels, and it is still my favourite.
tziviaeadler says: August 21, 2017 at 11:51 PM I remember David C to be really depressing, not as good as To2C. Great review, though I wondered what you thought about the child-bride Dora.
denisesmusings says: August 22, 2017 at 2:35 PM Great post and timely. Great site, thanks for coming by. My play which included Dickens was performed just before last Christmas. The main focus was Ada Lovelace, but in writing the play I learned more and more about Dickens – and was astounded. Also, I’ve decided to work this play into a novel and will start on 1st September. Also, another story brewing is around Freud and his times. So your post couldn’t have been more interesting/exciting even. And there are many more. I plan to read it in full later today. And, at the Margate Bookie, I had only just complained about the responses I have been getting to my blog and had more or less stopped. So thanks a million on many levels and I look forward to reading your work in full. How lucky we are….
cgdtaylor says: August 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM When I was a child in the UK, every Sunday afternoon we had an adaption of a Dicken's novel on TV. I found these shows very frightening as the characters and their predicaments were too real. Re-reading some of his work in early adulthood, I now saw it as being a caricature of his times. Today with advancing years, I believe he is writing both; he was writing life. Anyone agree?
roshendalal says: September 21, 2017 at 2:55 PM a good review and assessment.
authorstephanieparkermckean says: November 23, 2017 at 12:11 AM Good book review! Thanks.
manavck100 says: December 27, 2017 at 9:10 AM I have been trying to read it but the number of pages scares me. You posed a good review, so I think I should read it one day.
Durga Prasad Dash says: December 28, 2017 at 1:09 PM Read it long time back. Used to be a lover of English classics and continue to do so.

Well written and succinct.

Sir could i send you my book?

@amanhimself says: August 5, 2017 at 9:20 PM Ofourse sir. I am currently accepting paid reviews. We can discuss more over my email: amandeepmittal@live.com

Ofourse sir. I am currently accepting paid reviews. We can discuss more over my email: amandeepmittal@live.com

madhunanr says: August 5, 2017 at 10:34 PM ok, i shall send you a mail.

ok, i shall send you a mail.

Like you said, this book is one of dicken's best works! It was actually the first book that introduced me to the vast world of his novels, and it is still my favourite.

@amanhimself says: August 20, 2017 at 11:09 PM My first Dickens novel was Oliver Twist but this had a major affect on me and my future readings.

My first Dickens novel was Oliver Twist but this had a major affect on me and my future readings.

I remember David C to be really depressing, not as good as To2C.
Great review, though I wondered what you thought about the child-bride Dora.

@amanhimself says: August 22, 2017 at 12:51 PM Thanks! As I remember, she was portrayed as an immature character but an she learns her way to redemption when she meets Agnes and falls ill.

Thanks! As I remember, she was portrayed as an immature character but an she learns her way to redemption when she meets Agnes and falls ill.

SylviaMcivers says: August 23, 2017 at 5:37 AM oh yeah, the helpless adult who grows up and promptly dies. no wonder i forgot :(

oh yeah, the helpless adult who grows up and promptly dies. no wonder i forgot :(

Great post and timely. Great site, thanks for coming by. My play which included Dickens was performed just before last Christmas. The main focus was Ada Lovelace, but in writing the play I learned more and more about Dickens – and was astounded. Also, I’ve decided to work this play into a novel and will start on 1st September. Also, another story brewing is around Freud and his times. So your post couldn’t have been more interesting/exciting even. And there are many more. I plan to read it in full later today. And, at the Margate Bookie, I had only just complained about the responses I have been getting to my blog and had more or less stopped. So thanks a million on many levels and I look forward to reading your work in full. How lucky we are….

@amanhimself says: August 22, 2017 at 6:26 PM Thank you for visiting too. Good luck on your novel. I will definitely look for it when it comes out. Indeed we are. 😄

Thank you for visiting too. Good luck on your novel. I will definitely look for it when it comes out. Indeed we are. 😄

When I was a child in the UK, every Sunday afternoon we had an adaption of a Dicken's novel on TV. I found these shows very frightening as the characters and their predicaments were too real.

Re-reading some of his work in early adulthood, I now saw it as being a caricature of his times.

Today with advancing years, I believe he is writing both; he was writing life.

Anyone agree?

@amanhimself says: August 30, 2017 at 6:52 PM I do. He certainly has covered a lot about life in his books and one does not fail to recognise that. That is a thing about reading Dickens novels.

I do. He certainly has covered a lot about life in his books and one does not fail to recognise that. That is a thing about reading Dickens novels.

a good review and assessment.

@amanhimself says: September 21, 2017 at 4:16 PM Thanks!

Thanks!

Good book review! Thanks.

I have been trying to read it but the number of pages scares me. You posed a good review, so I think I should read it one day.

@amanhimself says: December 27, 2017 at 1:13 PM Definitely consider it reading. When reading you won't have any problems with its length :)

Definitely consider it reading. When reading you won't have any problems with its length :)

Read it long time back. Used to be a lover of English classics and continue to do so.

@amanhimself says: December 31, 2017 at 1:53 PM Me too. I love reading them as they capture a time and characters that are evergreen :)

Me too. I love reading them as they capture a time and characters that are evergreen :)

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