David Copperfield: First Impressions, NO Spoilers

[Katy, New School Classics]

Add your comments here. No spoilers please.

[Shelley]

Just wanted to mention (because I just found it out myself) that Dickens wrote a "history of England for children." It's not exactly light reading, but for Dickens lovers it's fun because he interjects his quite opinionated opinions about the various kings, queens, and especially religious figures.

You can see why he might have been a fabulous storyteller to children.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

[Katy, New School Classics]

Thanks Shelley, is this the book you are talking about?

by Charles Dickens

Available Free for ebooks at Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/699

[Katy, New School Classics]

I can't believe I am so behind in my reading this month. I haven't even started this book! This is one of my dearest friends top reads! And I've never read it before.

[Katy, New School Classics]

A brief plot summary for those who want to know:

(view spoiler)[The story traces the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, in 1820, six months after the death of his father. David spends his early years with his mother and their housekeeper, Peggotty. When he is seven years old, his mother re-marries Edward Murdstone. David is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards. Murdstone thrashes David for falling behind in his studies. Following one of these thrashings, David bites him and soon afterwards is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, with a ruthless headmaster, Mr. Creakle. There he befriends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles.

David returns home for the holidays to learn that his mother has given birth to a baby boy. Shortly after David returns to Salem House, his mother and her baby die and David returns home immediately. Peggotty marries a man named Mr Barkis. Murdstone sends David to work in a factory in London, of which Murdstone is a joint owner.[4] Copperfield's landlord, Wilkins Micawber, is sent to debtors' prison (the King's Bench Prison) and remains there for several months before being released and moving to Plymouth. No one remains to care for David in London, so he decides to run away.

He walks from London to Dover, where he finds his only relative, his unmarried, eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood. She agrees to raise him, despite Murdstone's attempt to regain custody of David. David's aunt renames him "Trotwood Copperfield" and addresses him as "Trot", and it becomes one of several names to which David answers in the course of the novel.

As David grows to adulthood, a variety of characters enter, leave, and re-enter his life. These include Peggotty and her family, including her orphaned niece "Little Em'ly", who moves in with them and charms the young David. David's romantic but self-serving school friend, Steerforth, seduces and dishonours Little Em'ly, precipitating the novel's greatest tragedy, and his landlord's daughter Agnes Wickfield, becomes his confidante. The novel's two most familiar characters are David's sometime mentor, the debt-ridden Micawber, and the devious and fraudulent clerk, Uriah Heep, whose misdeeds are eventually revealed with Micawber's assistance. Micawber is painted sympathetically even as the narrator deplores his financial ineptitude. Micawber, like Dickens' own father, is briefly imprisoned for insolvency.

The major characters eventually get some measure of what they deserve, and few narrative threads are left hanging. Peggotty's brother Dan safely transports Emily to a new life in Australia, accompanied by the widowed Mrs. Gummidge and the Micawbers. All eventually find security and happiness in their adopted country. David marries the beautiful but naïve Dora Spenlow, who dies after failing to recover from a miscarriage early in their marriage. David then searches his soul and marries the sensible Agnes, who had always loved him and with whom he finds true happiness. David and Agnes then have at least four children, including a daughter named after his aunt Betsey Trotwood. (hide spoiler)]
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Co...)

[Katy, New School Classics]

Film & Theatrical Versions:




1911, directed by Theodore Marston
1913, directed by Thomas Bentley
1922, directed by A. W. Sandberg
1935, directed by George Cukor
1966, a 13 part TV serial that aired in 1966.
1969, directed by Delbert Mann, featuring numerous English classical actors.
1974, directed by Joan Craft
1986, directed by Barry Letts, shown on BBC 1986/87
1993, animated, shown on NBC
1999, shown on BBC
2000, directed by Peter Medak

[Katy, New School Classics]

Read it free online:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/766

http://www.archive.org/stream/persona...

http://www.bartleby.com/307/

[Sara]

How do you put spoilers in a post?
I am on chapter 16. Is anybody else going to participate in the discussions?

[Katy, New School Classics]

To do a spoiler

type a <
Then type in the word spoiler
Then close with a >

Then just type whatever you want to write, then at the end you have to

type
Then type in the word spoiler
Then close with a >

If that doesn't make sense, click on the (some html is ok) link at the top right of the comment box and it gives hints too.

Hope that helps.

[Katy, New School Classics]

I do plan to read this book, almost finished with Jane Eyre -- I'll probably start David Copperfield this week.

by Charlotte Brontë

[Sara]

Kathy wrote: "To do a spoiler

type a <
Then type in the word spoiler
Then close with a >

Then just type whatever you want to write, then at the end you have to

type
Then type in the word spoiler
Then clo..."

Thank you. Take your time with Jane Eyre it is a really good book.

[L]

Have been reading on kindle cloud. Not quite what I expected so far. I am only about 40 pages in.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Just finished Jane Eyre and it is about the end of the month. I guess I'll save David Copperfield for another time. One of these months I'll actually read a book during the month chosen and not have to rely on the Re-visit the Shelf.

[Katy, New School Classics]

February 2014 Revisit the Shelf Read.

[Katy, New School Classics]

I changed this thread to the non-spoiler thread.

[Cheryl]

I am listening to an audio version of this book. Maybe I read it in high school-its been 30 years. I am so enjoying it-I am crocheting while I listen. I am making an afghan for charity.
I am on Chapter 24.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Wow, Cheryl. You are making some progress. It will be February before I can start. Finishing up a few books here the last couple days of January.

[Cheryl]

I found this book very entertaining. Although Dickens gets a little wordy at times, it is very endearing in this novel from 1849. I was sad when it finally ended, but all of the loose ends were tied up. Now, I am sure that we didn’t read this one in high school English-we read a lot of other books. This one, in print, is 891 pages and 64 chapters. And, listening to a classic on audio is such a treat: It is like listening to a little unabridged play because each character speaks with a voice for him or her.

[MK]

Cheryl wrote: "I am listening to an audio version of this book. Maybe I read it in high school-its been 30 years. I am so enjoying it-I am crocheting while I listen. I am making an afghan for charity.
I am on Ch..."

Cheryl, I think I may do a late 'read' of this book in March, and go with the audio book too. My library has two options: © 1992, David Case contributor, Frederick Davidson narrating, ?? hours, audio book download; or © 2009, Simon Vance narrating, 34 hours, audio book on CD.

Which narrator did you listen to (there are likely others as well), and do you recommend that narrator?

The Simon Vance Audible audiobook version is also available at a reduced $2.99 price as part of a Whispersync pair, once you download the free ebook from Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/David-Copperfie...

[Daisy]

MK wrote: "I think I may do a late 'read' of this book in March."

This is a good book so far. Like you MK, if you don't mind that I borrow your term, I think I might do a "late read" also, and a slow read. I'm on chapter 6.

[MK]

Of course not, Daisy! I probably swiped it from someone in this group, heh ;-). It does seem like a good book, one I'd likely enjoy!

[Cheryl]

I listened to SENSE AND SENSIBILITY on a device that I checked out at the library called a PLAYAWAY-I just put a battery in it and use my own headphones. It was read by Nadia May. I did the same for the book DAVID COPPERFIELD, since it was only in that available in that format.

[MK]

TY, Cheryl :). Do you recall which narrator you listened to for David Copperfield? Trying to decide if I should go with the CDs or the audiobook download (different narrators).

[Cheryl]

MK wrote: "TY, Cheryl :). Do you recall which narrator you listened to for David Copperfield? Trying to decide if I should go with the CDs or the audiobook download (different narrators)."

No. sorry I don't.

[MK]

ahh, oh well. thx! :)

[Shelley]

It's hard to find a genius more conflicted about women than Dickens.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

[Cheryl]

"David Copperfield" is on Turner Classic Movies (256-here) at 1:30 AM 03/03 (Pacific time). Check TVGuide.com for your area.

[Katy, New School Classics]

I just didn't get to this book this month. I have got to remember to nominate it for a long quarterly read!

[Daisy]

Kathy wrote: "I have got to remember to nominate it for a long quarterly read!"

Kathy, good idea. I was just wishing that it was a quarterly long read!

[Katy, New School Classics]

:)

[Annina]

I read David Copperfield one summer, when I was traveling around Europe. I bought it from Amsterdam, where I found this English Bookstore.

It's years ago, but I remember thinking that it's very good book. It made me want to read more Dickens, but I haven't really read any after that cause always comes something else to read.

[Katy, New School Classics]

This is one of my best girlfriend's favorite book. So I have to read it. Just finding the time.

And yes, reading just makes me find more books to read.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens our Long Read for the 4th Quarter, (Oct.-Dec.) 2019.


This is the No Spoiler Thread
The Spoiler Thread will open Octover 1st.

This early posting of the No Spoiler thread is to discuss any non-plot issues pertaining to the book.

Appropriate Posts can contain:
1. Information about the author.
2. Compare editions/translations.
3. Any historical or background information
4. Are you familiar with this author’s work? Do you have any expectations going into the book?
5. What made you decide to read this book?
6. Any fan fiction that you have read or would like to read? Just link the books.
7. If you loved the book and want others to share in that experience, use this thread to motivate others, again save plot specifics for the Spoiler thread
8. If you hated the book, it would be best to keep that for the spoiler page

The most important thing to remember is no plot discussion. Any post that contains plot information or spoilers will be deleted.

[Christine]

I have this book on audio narrated by Simon Vance. Vance is one of my favorite narrators and I've enjoyed everything else I've read by Dickens, so I'm really hoping to join in on this group read.

[Katy, New School Classics]

I probably won't do a reread of this one, although it has been a couple of years since I've read it. I may pop in for the discussion though.

[Philina]

I‘ve also got a lot of Simon Vance audiobooks. This time, though, it‘ll be Richard Armitage reading.

[Terry]

I am reading the free Gutenberg version. Dickens has such a great readable style — this will be great!

[Piyangie]

Read it last year, so won't be rereading. I hope all those members who read will enjoy this read. To me, it was one amazing read. It is now one of my favourites.

[Sarah]

I really look forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage.

[Michaela]

I´ve never been such a big Dickens fan, but perhaps some of you may alter this! ;) Too depressing, and sooo long!
Want to listen to the audiobook performed by Richard Armitage, who has a remarkable voice, and I also heard that his performance of the book is amazing.

[Sarah]

Michaela wrote: "I´ve never been such a big Dickens fan, but perhaps some of you may alter this! ;) Too depressing, and sooo long!
Want to listen to the audiobook performed by Richard Armitage, who has a remarkable..."

I'd listen to Richard Armitage reading a dictionary...so there's that, lol

[Michaela]

Sarah wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I´ve never been such a big Dickens fan, but perhaps some of you may alter this! ;) Too depressing, and sooo long!
Want to listen to the audiobook performed by Richard Armitage, who..."

Definitely! :)

[Chris]

Havent read any Dickens since high school. Lookng forward to this one. Will be reading the Vintage Classics edition

[Janet]

I'm going to join in but it probably won't be until late November.

[Sue]

I'm going to join in in November also

[Erin]

Count me in... this books been on my TBR pile for years. I love Dickens but have avoided it simply because of the 'epic' nature that surrounds it. A group read should be perfect.

[Sandra]

I will join you on this one. :)

[Pamela]

I'll be joining in, Dickens is a big favourite of mine but I've never read this one. I have the Vintage Classics edition too.

[Priyanka]

I am definately a huge fan of Dickens but I have never read this one. So I am excited to start this one soon.

[Sue]

I'm starting! I wasn't in the mood for my other books so I'm not waiting until November anymore