When an author like Dickens says that one of his novels is
his favorite, you know that it’s something amazing! And that’s exactly what he
said about David Copperfield, commonly considered his most autobiographical
work. So much so that even the initials of the main character and the author
are the same – only inverted!
David Copperfield is a book that nearly everyone has read
(or made to read) during their school years. But if you’ve never read the
original, unabridged version, it is strongly recommended you do so! Dickens
brings to life 19th century London, with many colorful characters
that are characteristic of his stories.
David’s life starts off relatively happily, but the entry of
a stepfather makes his life take a turn for the worse. Dickens goes into great
detail to explain the various atrocities meted out on children – in schools, on
the streets and in work places. Children were often exploited and made to do
hard work in exchange for a paltry sum of money or meals. But David’s
misfortunes end when he meets his aunt, the immensely interesting Betsey
Trotwood.
Ms. Trotwood is just one of the many, many characters in
David’s life and keeping track of all of them is quite a task! Midway through
the story, you might have to turn back a few pages to remember who a certain
person is. But that’s the fun of reading Dickens; you never know who might come
up to change the story around!
David Copperfield is basically a growing up story. From a
boy with no clear path in front of him, David learns from his mistakes and
makes his way. I feel that an interesting aspect of this book is that it has
many sub plots with the other characters, and Dickens does justice to them by
resolving their stories satisfactorily enough. And since by the end of the book
all of them feel like your friends too, you feel good knowing that they are
settled down and happy!
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