“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”

From the time he was a child, David Copperfield’s life has been plagued with hardships. He never met his father, who died six months before David was born. His stepfather beats him. He is sent away to boarding school under the rule of a cruel headmaster. And on his ninth birthday, he learns that his mother has passed away.

Adulthood brings its own set of challenges, as David is faced with the social injustices of Victorian England. However, he finds consolation in the friendships he forges, the pursuit of true love, and his passion for writing.

Even though David Copperfield is considered a work of fiction, it is a semi-autobiographical account of Charles Dickens’ own life. Dickens felt a special affinity for this book and considered it his personal favorite. Readers who enjoyed other Dickens classics—such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities—will appreciate this more intimate exploration of the heart and mind behind these literary masterpieces.

Joel Froomkin

Stem