Jeffrey Spitz Cohan
asked:
How important is it, in terms of both understanding and appreciating Demon Copperhead, to have read David Cooperfield?
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Barbara
It isn't necessary to read David Copperfield to understand / appreciate Demon Copperhead. However, for me, it has added another layer of enjoyment and interest, as I try to match the situations / characters in each text. I am a Dickens fan and loved David Copperfield, so I am enjoying the DC references (I am still reading Demon Copperhead). What I am also finding interesting is that the author has included some of the same literary techniques Dickens used in DC e.g., foreshadowing.
Maheen
I think it is a disservice to Demon Copperhead to try to find parallels between this and David Copperfield. Barbara Kingsolver has written an amazing book which easily stands among the best on its own merit. The reader can both understand and appreciate the story without ever having read David Copperfield.
Philip Rudy
I was randomly reading David Copperfield when I saw Demon Copperhead come out last October, so I went and purchased it. You definitely don't need to read David Copperfield first, but there is a certain delight you get to seeing how Barbara Kingsolver approached various characters and events in the book, including the original book covers of both. My favorite was Agnes (Angus in Demon Copperhead) and there are several instances that Barbara throws in some very creative twists where she truly flexes her talent I don't think I would have appreciated these twists as much if you haven't read the original.
Pam
I read David Copperfield years & years ago, so had no memory of it when reading Demon (except for the very first line!). Now that I finished Demon, I’m looking forward to reading David again
Susan
I think it helps you to appreciate it more; you realize that certain characters represent characters in the book (Dori, Demon's girlfriend, represents David's wife Dora in the book, etc). It could be read as a stand-alone book, I guess, but I think you might not appreciate the references? (I'm a big Dickens fan and would suggest you read it first--just my opinion. It's one of the easier Dickens novels to read).
IvanOpinion
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Tom
I read it without having read the Dickens. And it stood alone nicely. The author herself said it wasn’t necessary in her letter to the reader in my copy. I have gone back and reviewed thumbnails of the classic and it has tickled my interest.
Desiree
I read David Copperfield immediately before reading Demon Copperhead and I can honestly say it's been an absolute JOY to track the former with the latter. I don't think it's necessary to read the Dickens as a prerequisite, but it has undoubtedly increased my enjoyment of the Kingsolver novel exponentially!
Sandra Jackson - Alawine
It's been years since I have read David Copperfield and while I roughly remember the plot and characters the book is definitely a stand-alone. You need absolutely no knowledge of David Copperfield to read and enjoy it. And it's well worth the read.
Holly
I started reading David Copperfield first since I was #140 on the hold list for Demon Copperhead, then the hold unexpectedly came in so I was reading them in tandem and enjoying the novelty of the parallel stories. At about a third through each, though, I realized it was distracting and confusing flipping back and forth. I stayed with Kingsolver to the end, binge-reading through a weekend, such a compelling story. I am now going back to Dickens, ok with more knowledge of how things may turn out for the characters.
Aaron Myram
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Cynthia
A friend and I read Demon Copperhead at at the same time. She had not read David Copperfieild, but I had (though more than 30 years ago). We both loved, loved, loved the book. But I had the added delight of seeing how Kingsolver followed the plot of the original, how she adapted all the names, and how she brought it into the 20th century without ever making it feel forced. Now I am reading David Copperfield again
Judith
Not important at all! They are both about the effects of institutional poverty on children, but are two entirely different stories with some characters having deliberately similar names.
doug.whatzup
Short answer: not at all.
Peggy Hardman
I did not like David Copperfield, obviously there are parallels, but admit when reading, especially the childhood years of Demon, I had flashbacks to Oliver Twist. Book needs no priors to my way of thinking; its themes are all around us today, and are easily recognized, I believe.
Patricia O'Brien
No, but if you have read the Dickens it would show you how supremely clever Barbara Kingsolver is in weaving its threads into this brilliant novel.
Laurie
Silly me. I had no clue there was any relation to David Copperfield until the end when I read the info on Goodreads. Now Im reading David Copperfield and may be able to understand it better.
Margaret
I've neve read David Copperfield and had no problem reading Demon Copperhead. B/c I was curious (but not enough to start reading David Copperfield), I ordered and have referred to a cliff notes type book on David Copperfield - I was interested in the parallels, especially with the characters.
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