Dickens - David Copperfield TheAuthor
    Charles Dickens was born at Portsmouth on 7February 1812, the second of eight children. Dickens' childhoodexperiences were similar to those depicted in David Copperfield. His father, whowas a government clerk, was imprisoned for dept and Dickens was brieяy sent towork in a blacking warehouse at the age of twelve. He received little formaleducation, but taught himself shorthand and became a reporter of parliamentarydebates for the Morning Chronicle. He began to publish sketches in variousperiodicals, which were subsequently republished as Sketches by Boz, ThePickwick Papers were published in 1836-37 and after a slow start became apublishing phenomenon and Dickens' characters the centre of popular cult.Part of the secret of his success was the method of cheap serial publicationwhich Dickens used for all his novels. He began Oliver Twist in 1837, followedby Nicholas Nickleby (1838) and The Old Curiosity Shop (1840-41). Afterfinishing Barnaby Rudge (1841) Dickens set off for America; he went full ofenthusiasm for the young republic but, in spite of a triumphant reception, hereturned disillusioned. His experiences are recorded in American Notes (1842).Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44) did not repeat its predecessors' success butthis was quickly redressedby the huge popularity of the Christmas Books, ofwhich the first A Christmas Carol, appeared in 1843, During 1844-46 Dickenstravelled abroad and he began Dombey an Son while in Switzerland. This and DavidCopperfield (1849-50) were more serious in theme and more carefully planned thanhis early novels. In later works, such as Bleak House (1853) and Little Dorrit(1857), Dickens' social criticism became more radical and his comedy moresavage. In 1850 Dickens started the weekly periodical Household Words, succeededin 1859 by All the Year Round; in these he published Hard Times (1854), A Taleof Two Cities (1859) and Great Expectations (1860-61). Dickens' health wasfailing during the 1860s and the physical strain of the public readings which hebegan in 1858 hastened his decline, although Our Mutual Friend (1865) retainedsome of his best comedy. His last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was nevercompleted andhe died on 9 June 1870. Public grief at his death was considerableand he was buried in the Poets' Corner of WestminsterAbbey. TheSummary
    David Copperfield is David's narrationin his maturityof the events and incidents through which he remembers his lifeand character developing, and through which his maturity was reached.
    Six months before David Copperfield'sbirth, his father died. His aunt, Betsey Trotwood, arrives in Blunderstone onthe night he is born, but immediately gives up all interest in him, as she hadfirmly expected a girl. With his gentle mother Clara Copperfield and his belovednurse Peggotty, David's early childhood is very happy. Peggotty takes himon holiday to Yarmouth, where they stay in an old boat-house with her brother MrPeggotty, his nephew Ham and pretty niece little Emily, and the forlorn widowMrs Gummidge. David's happiness ends when he returns home to find hismother has re-married. Her new husband, Murdstone, and his sister Jane, driveClara to an early grave with their cruel'firmness'. David is sent away to Salem House, a schoolrun by a harsh, cruel headmaster, Creakle. He makes two friends there: theapparently charming Steerforth and the agreeable Traddles. But after hismother's death, he is sent instead to work in Murdstone's Londonwarehouse, where he miserably experiences poverty,despair, and loneliness. Helodges with the family of the extraordinary Mr Micawber, whose continualfinancial difficulties lead to his eventual imprisonment fordebt. David decides to run away to his Aunt Betseyin Dover. Penniless and alone, he has to walk all the way. He finds her caringfor Mr Dick, a pleasant simpleton. She is as eccentric as ever, but takes himin, as he had hoped, and dismisses the Murdstones from their responsibility forhim. She also arranges for him to live in Canterbury with her lawyer, MrWickfield, and his lovely daughter, Agnes, and to attend old DoctorStrong's excellent school there. In Canterbury, David also meetsWickfield's sinister clerk, the 'umble' Uriah Heep, and renewshis friendship with the Micawbers when they happen to pass throughtown. David grows up, successfully completes hiseducation, and is to spend some time 'looking about' for a career.Passing through London, he happens to meet Steerforth, who takes him tovisithis mother and her ardent companion, Rosa Dartle. David was on his way torevisit Mr Peggotty and his household at Yarmouth, and now takes Steerforth withhim. They find little Emily grown up and engaged to Ham. Peggotty has marriedBarkis the carrier: their courtship was aided by David occasionally acting asBarkis's messenger to Peggotty. David is articled to Spenlow and Jorkins asan apprentice proctor in Doctors' Commons. He takes rooms in London, wherehe entertains Steerforth, drunkenly; and later invites the Micawbers, stillshort of money, and their new lodger, Traddles. David meets Dora Spenlow andinstantly falls desperately in love with her. After her birthday picnic, theyare secretly engaged. David returns brieяy to Yarmouth, as Barkisis dying. While he is there, Mr Peggotty's household is most unhappilyupset by Emily's running away with Steerforth. Mr Peggotty resolves tofollow her, find her, and bring her back. He meets, unsatisfactorily, proud MrsSteerforth and the infuriated Rosa Dartle. Aunt Betsey arrives in London with Mr Dick,and announces that she is ruined. David starts work with great determination, asa part- time secretary to Doctor Strong. At the same time he teaches himselfshorthand. After many struggles, he becomes a parliamentary reporter. Mr Spenlowhas learned of his daughter's secret engagement, through her companion,Jane Murdstone, and tells Davidhe forbids it. ............