Reviews - David Copperfield

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2.53k reviews for:

David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

3.9 AVERAGE

amberadkins's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

haaris's review against another edition

5.0

I have always believed that I possess the uncanny ability to pick the book best suited for the events and ordeals I am going through in the moment. It was in October, less than three months after a heart-rending personal tragedy, that I picked David Copperfield, a favourite from my teenage years.

How can I describe the power of this greatest of novels? I took my time to read it, as one must when reading a classic. I marvelled at Dickens' powers of observations. I stopped midway a paragraph, turning my head to the sky, sighing over a particularly poignant moment; or reflecting at the depth of a line. I laughed at the grandiose confidence of Mr Micawber, a comic character beyond comparison. I felt David's earnestness and resolve to cut down his forest of hardships. And I was transported to his maudlin state of mind when he fell in love.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, what I wanted finally happened. It happened unannounced. The novel spoke to me. It spoke directly to my heart. It gave me the kind of friendship only a great book can give. I felt vindicated in my choice and in my presentiment.

I can do a deep analysis of the book. I can tell you about memory. Or about Dickens' genius in authentically conveying each phase of Copperfield's life, through his thoughts, reasoning, and actions. Or about the unforgettable cast of characters, the emotions they draw out from the reader, and their memorable lines. Or about the gentle wisdom it offers the reader, wisdom from experience (tajurba).

It is all for naught. I cannot do justice to the greatness of the novel. What I can say is that there are only a few books I will carry with me everywhere, as long as I can read. And one of them will surely be David Copperfield.

trilobite's review against another edition

4.75

funny hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The first two times I tried to read David Copperfield I quit about a quarter of the way in. Being afflicted with a modern, impaired attention-span it took more mental energy than I could force myself to give at the time. Yet it remained an unclimbed 900-page mountain in the background of my literary life. A mountain I have finally conquered!

I had heard that David Copperfield was Dickens’ most autobiographical novel, and I thought Copperfield would be the best way to get to know Dickens and his writing. But there is another reason I became, years ago, intent on reading this book: among Orthodox Christians, there is an oft repeated story about a young man who wished to become a monk, so he journeyed to Mt. Athos and spoke with the Abbot of the monastery he wished to join, and told him that his heart was burning for the spiritual life, for a life of asceticism, and unceasing communion with God. He begged the Abbot to instruct him on how to advance in the spiritual life. The Abbot gave him a copy of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and advised him to read it. The young man was scandalized and objected to the book, calling it a product of “heterodox Victorian sentimentality and Western captivity.” He claimed the book isn't spiritual and that he needed books that would teach him spirituality. The Abbot told him that if he did not “first develop normal, human, Christian feelings and learn to view life as little Davey did-with simplicity, kindness, warmth, and forgiveness-then all the Orthodox ‘spirituality’ and Patristic books will not only be of no help to you-they will turn you into a ‘spiritual’ monster and destroy your soul…”

From DC, I noted a few ways in which we can avoid the path of becoming spiritual monsters:

Always see the utmost best in people.

Per Betsey Trotwood, “Never be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel.” And if you should incur unthinkable losses, insist on living happily ever-after.

Like Agnes, believe with all your heart that simple love and truth are stronger in the end than all evil and misfortune.

Like Miss Julia Mills, understand that the Cottage of content is better than the Palace of cold splendor, and that where love is, is all.

Know that there is a Love that pursues all wayward human beings the way that Mr. Peggotty* gave up all and endured every privation to pursue the lost Little Em’ly, and like Mr. Peggotty, may our hearts be wounded by thankfulness.

*An entire essay could be written (and probably has) on how an image of God is falsely constructed by those who think God is a severe disciplinarian like Davey’s evil stepfather, Mr. Murdstone, when in reality God is like Mr. Peggotty who never stopped longing for, loving, and searching for his child Emily who had been lead astray.

One more thing I want to add, I physically read this book AND listened to the audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage, sometimes at the same time, other times just listening when I could not sit with the text (driving, cleaning house, etc). It’s the first time I’ve ever listened to an audiobook. Listening to the audiobook was more entertaining, but physically reading it is more satisfying for a word nerd who likes to annotate. I will say though, that listening to the part where Miss Betsey Trotwood goes off on Mr. Murdstone was THE most satisfying literary experience of my life!