David Copperfield

Date of Reading: 12/08/2007

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Rohan Book Company

Place: Delhi

Year: 2004

Rs. 95

             Our college library had a vast Dickens section, the only hitch being that we require some lenses to read. Letters are too small (like in small English Bibles which send us to sleep within five minutes). But someone has lost a book once (not me!) and there is this replacement copy with pictures and of course readable letters and that's how I first met David Copperfield. Book indeed had a nasty smell which I was allergic to, but the story was that gripping and I was prepared to suffer a few sneezes. I went on to read some of his other novels too - personal copies - but never could I find the same spirit again. This is simply the best.


Daniel Radcliff as David Copperfield



             David Copperfield is born on a Friday midnight after six months of his father's death. His mother marries Mr. Murdstone who never found anything to like in little David and he forcefully sends him off to a boarding school (this bit is actually a little sentimental, so better keep a hanky beside while reading the original). His nurse Miss Peggotty and her family - Mr. Peggotty, Ham and Emily - are the only consolation.

             At the boarding his friends are Steerforth and Tom Traddles; but when his mother dies suddenly, he is withdrawn from there and is sent to work in London as per his stepfather's instructions. There he comes to know of the Micawbers and on finding that his rich aunt Betsy Trotwood is at Dover, he runs away. She adopts him on the condition that his last name should be changed to Trotwood.

              He stays with Mr. Wickfield and his beautiful daughter Agnes to continue his studies under the supervision of Dr. Strong. Here the villain of the piece, Uriah Heep is introduced as the clerk of the family. After he passes in flying colours in the exams, he takes the profession of a proctor and meets his first love, Dora Spenlow.

              Tragedy strikes when his aunt loses her property; David leaves the present profession and starts writing books along with other odd jobs. Marriage with Dora takes place after the death of her father who was set against it. Meanwhile Uriah Heep is growing (in greed and in money) and is now in partnership with Mr. Wickfield; he even demands Agnes' hand in marriage to avert the ruin that will come soon to her family.

            After three years of happy marriage Dora dies. Micawber as the new secretary finds the forgeries of Heep and Wickfield and aunt Betsy gets their money back. Micawber family along with the Peggottys migrates to Australia to begin a new life. David travels far and wide to reduce his pain on Dora's death and his reputation as a writer is established.
              When he comes back after three years of wandering, he marries Agnes. They have three daughters - Agnes, Betsy and Dora. News also comes from Micawber informing that he has become an eminent magistrate.

            Story is highly autobiographical and it is said that the character of Micawber is drawn after Dickens' own father.