David Copperfield

The narrative of David Copperfield follows a young man as he journeys from a difficult and destitute upbringing to realizing his calling as a thriving author. His cruel stepfather, Mr. Murdstone; his intelligent but ultimately unworthy school friend, James Steerforth; his formidable aunt, Betsey Trotwood; the ever-humble but deceitful Uriah Heep; the frivolous and charming Dora Spenlow; and the magnificently impecunious Wilkins Micawber, one of literature's great comic creations, are just a few of the wonderfully vivid cast of characters he meets. Dickens drew revealingly on his own experiences to produce one of the most vibrant and enduringly popular works, David Copperfield, a novel packed with equal parts tragedy and humor. Dickens characterized the book as his "favourite child." Based on the text of the first volume originally published in 1850, this version has been enlarged with annotations, a corrected chronology, original artwork by 'Phiz', and updated recommendations for more reading. Jeremy Tambling addresses the personal aspects of the book as well as its main topics of identity and memory in his updated introduction.