Dickensians! discussion
Buddy Reads
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Buddy read of David Copperfield May 2021 onwards with Cozy_Pug, Sue, Bridget, Fiona and Jenny
The countdown is on!!!
I like to think that Dickens would be pleased to know he's still generating new fans all these decades later :)
I like to think that Dickens would be pleased to know he's still generating new fans all these decades later :)
Cozy_Pug wrote: "I'm wondering if we'll have the issue with David Copperfield that we did with Dombey, where some texts are missing bits. The text I'm reading is within a complete works ebook -[book:The Complete ..."
I just bought this on my Kindle, thanks for the suggestions C-P and Angela (and the others on the Dombey and Son read who raved about this) Best twenty-five cents I ever spent LOL
I also have the book in physical form -- Penguin Classic edition. I mostly prefer reading with a physical book in one hand and my pen in the other for making notes. But sometimes you just can't beat a Kindle for convenience (and larger type!)
It’s Monday (around 8:30am) in the UK. I’m looking forward to reading the first chapter but will probably save it until this afternoon. Have fun everyone!
Off to a good start. I love the humour in the first chapter and am completely invested in the story already. It was fascinating to learn about the significance of a caul in those times. It’s clear how valuable it was considered to be by its being advertised at 15 guineas initially and later auctioned at a 2/6 a go.
Bridget wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "I'm wondering if we'll have the issue with David Copperfield that we did with Dombey, where some texts are missing bits. The text I'm reading is within a complete works ebook -
[b..."
Kathleen found that Kindle Dickens book - honestly it's the best 25 cents I've ever spent! :D
I agree, paper books are wonderful. I really miss the reading experience of a book in my hand.
[b..."
Kathleen found that Kindle Dickens book - honestly it's the best 25 cents I've ever spent! :D
I agree, paper books are wonderful. I really miss the reading experience of a book in my hand.
I thought the caul was interesting too Fiona, as well as the superstitions around being born at midnight on a Friday.I really liked the Aunt Bestey Trotwood character. Not that I like how she treats Mrs. Copperfield, just how she's so sure of herself, abrasive and obstinate. What a great character. I loved when she stuffed cotton in her ears to keep away the screams of childbirth. And how she was so sure it was a girl, and then left when it wasn't. She made me laugh.
It was a great start to the book. I agree with Bridget, Betsy Trotwood made me laugh too.
Random thoughts from my first day's reading -
I'm wondering why Dickens would have felt ashamed if the public knew his early life story. Is it because time spent in debtors' prisons was perceived as something to be ashamed of, or because Dickens felt his humble beginnings would negatively affect his readers' opinion of him? Did he think he'd be dismissed as a writer of talent if his past were made public?
In the original group read thread, Jean described this novel as having a "gleeful exuberance". I do wonder if part of that is because Dickens felt a sense of release and relief at making his secrets known at last.
I never heard of the caul - that's an odd but interesting bit of information! For me, it definitely has an "ew" factor - I cannot imagine buying such a thing lol!
I'd never heard of the born at midnight on a Friday superstition, either. I was born at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, glad I arrived before midnight :D
Wow what a character is Aunt Betsey! Can you imagine this strange woman blowing into your home mere hours before you give birth?! Quite funny how she storms out when she learns the baby is a boy - understandably, she seems to be a man-hater.
‘Let us have no meandering.’
That's a great line - very stern, school mistress feel to it.
I adore the descriptive words Dickens uses in this chapter. He painted a sort of spooky scene for the night of David's birth. A young widow, hours from delivering her first child, no blood relations with her - just a good, practical servant. A strange old woman peering in the windows of the house. Outside -
...the elms bent to one another, like giants who were whispering secrets....
The twilight was by this time shading down into darkness....
Then at midnight, the newborn's cry, and the strange old woman storms off into the night -
Betsey Trotwood Copperfield was forever in the land of dreams and shadows, the tremendous region whence I had so lately travelled; and the light upon the window of our room shone out upon the earthly bourne of all such travellers, and the mound above the ashes and the dust that once was he, without whom I had never been.
"Twilight shading down into darkness" is so vivid in my mind - it's a beautiful phrase.
DC definitely has a different feel than Dombey so far - a lighter mood, shorter sentences. I'm excited to see where this novel takes us!
I'm wondering why Dickens would have felt ashamed if the public knew his early life story. Is it because time spent in debtors' prisons was perceived as something to be ashamed of, or because Dickens felt his humble beginnings would negatively affect his readers' opinion of him? Did he think he'd be dismissed as a writer of talent if his past were made public?
In the original group read thread, Jean described this novel as having a "gleeful exuberance". I do wonder if part of that is because Dickens felt a sense of release and relief at making his secrets known at last.
I never heard of the caul - that's an odd but interesting bit of information! For me, it definitely has an "ew" factor - I cannot imagine buying such a thing lol!
I'd never heard of the born at midnight on a Friday superstition, either. I was born at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, glad I arrived before midnight :D
Wow what a character is Aunt Betsey! Can you imagine this strange woman blowing into your home mere hours before you give birth?! Quite funny how she storms out when she learns the baby is a boy - understandably, she seems to be a man-hater.
‘Let us have no meandering.’
That's a great line - very stern, school mistress feel to it.
I adore the descriptive words Dickens uses in this chapter. He painted a sort of spooky scene for the night of David's birth. A young widow, hours from delivering her first child, no blood relations with her - just a good, practical servant. A strange old woman peering in the windows of the house. Outside -
...the elms bent to one another, like giants who were whispering secrets....
The twilight was by this time shading down into darkness....
Then at midnight, the newborn's cry, and the strange old woman storms off into the night -
Betsey Trotwood Copperfield was forever in the land of dreams and shadows, the tremendous region whence I had so lately travelled; and the light upon the window of our room shone out upon the earthly bourne of all such travellers, and the mound above the ashes and the dust that once was he, without whom I had never been.
"Twilight shading down into darkness" is so vivid in my mind - it's a beautiful phrase.
DC definitely has a different feel than Dombey so far - a lighter mood, shorter sentences. I'm excited to see where this novel takes us!
Sammy wrote: "This is my favourite Dickens! I won't get around to it this month, but I'll join in a little later if that's ok? I'll read the whole thing in a couple of days anyway, because the audio version (rea..."
Hi Sammy! Good to see you here! I'm excited this is your favorite Dickens novel and that you can pop in and discuss when you're able to!
I keep seeing Richard Armitage mentioned in DC discussions here - I need to listen to a sample of his audio recording and hear what makes him so good!
Hi Sammy! Good to see you here! I'm excited this is your favorite Dickens novel and that you can pop in and discuss when you're able to!
I keep seeing Richard Armitage mentioned in DC discussions here - I need to listen to a sample of his audio recording and hear what makes him so good!
Cozy_Pug wrote: "Random thoughts from my first day's reading -I'm wondering why Dickens would have felt ashamed if the public knew his early life story. Is it because time spent in debtors' prisons was perceived ..."
Debt in Victorian England was seen as a moral failing, and obviously, got you sent to prison!
Bionic Jean wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "my black spine Penguin edition was missing that? That's the kind of missing bits I meant ..."
Yes, I knew what you meant and there are none like that in [book:David Copperfield|58..."
That's for explaining about the lack of missing bits in DC - that's a relief!
Yes, what an incredible thing to see the copy of DC that was actually on the Scott expedition! It's very interesting to me that Dostoyevsky wanted DC with him in Siberia. It gives me the impression that they all found this to be a comforting book as well as entertaining.
Yes, I knew what you meant and there are none like that in [book:David Copperfield|58..."
That's for explaining about the lack of missing bits in DC - that's a relief!
Yes, what an incredible thing to see the copy of DC that was actually on the Scott expedition! It's very interesting to me that Dostoyevsky wanted DC with him in Siberia. It gives me the impression that they all found this to be a comforting book as well as entertaining.
Angela wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "Random thoughts from my first day's reading -
I'm wondering why Dickens would have felt ashamed if the public knew his early life story. Is it because time spent in debtors' priso..."
Lol, true about the prison. It's hard for me to think of debt as a moral failing when it's so much a part of life for so many people today. It's hard to think about a time when debt was the exception and not the rule. Debtors' prisons, debtors' colonies - hard to comprehend today.
I'm wondering why Dickens would have felt ashamed if the public knew his early life story. Is it because time spent in debtors' priso..."
Lol, true about the prison. It's hard for me to think of debt as a moral failing when it's so much a part of life for so many people today. It's hard to think about a time when debt was the exception and not the rule. Debtors' prisons, debtors' colonies - hard to comprehend today.
It struck me how David worried about his father's grave stone being locked outside. It's a reminder of how differently children think about death.Aunt Betsy was also a pretty humorous character, with a strong undercurrent of careing.
“Let’s have no meandering “ reminds me of Mrs Chick’s entreaties to all to put in the proper amount of “effort.”I loved the description of the doctor, Mr Chillip. All of Dickens’ writing is so good from the very beginning of the chapter. The humor is constantly present even if in the background.
I’m looking forward to watching as this story unfolds.
Cozy_Pug, you picked out a couple of my favorite lines! The elm trees as giants whispering secrets -- just amazing writing, something so simple, and yet captures swaying trees perfectly.Sue, glad you brought up Mr. Chillip. Loved how he cowered on the stairs so as to not have to face Miss Trotwood! And how she wanted to throttle him when he wouldn't get to the point fast enough for her. Both Domeby and Son and DC open with a birth in the first chapter, but this one is much happier. Even with the grave outside, and the young widow who seems (rightly) overwhelmed.
Maybe that's in part because Peggotty is there. She seems to have thought ahead for David's arrival - by having her nephew Ham at hand to fetch the doctor. So she lends a bit of stability to the whole Rookery House.
Jenny wrote: "It struck me how David worried about his father's grave stone being locked outside. It's a reminder of how differently children think about death.Aunt Betsy was also a pretty humorous character, w..."
Jenny, thats a really good point - about children's perceptions of death - they are so different. Its interesting too because the narrator is an older version of David Copperfield, remembering how he felt as a child, and it seems like a very vivid memory for him. (If I layed on my father's grave I think I would remember that too!)
Which makes me kind of wonder about this chapter overall. I mean, he could not possibly remember his own birth, so this must be a re-telling of it as he heard it from his mom, or Peggotty......or maybe even Aunt Betsy. I'm not convinced she's really gone for good. Seems very unlike Dickens to introduce such a vivid character in the first chapter and them have her disappear.
Sue wrote: "“Let’s have no meandering “ reminds me of Mrs Chick’s entreaties to all to put in the proper amount of “effort.”I loved the description of the doctor, Mr Chillip. All of Dickens’ writing is so go..."
Ha! yes, definitely a Mrs. Chick feel, and also a school marm as Cozy Pug said!! LOL Its definitely got me thinking about the origins of my cup of tea this morning!
Chapter 1 was fantastic! I love the lightness in the tone and the humor. I notice that we've learned quite a bit about these characters already.We also have 3 women already in this chapter - it will be interesting to see how they are each portrayed and how their stories flesh out.
It is definitely a different feel from Dombey and for that I am glad to have a lighter read for the summer! And didn't Jean say that this was written after Dombey? I find it very interesting how his writing style is unmistakable yet so different.
I'm really going to like this!
I loved reading the links about Blundeston and finding out that it is a town on the sea in Suffolk makes me sad for the years I spent living in England in Suffolk. I would love to go back and spend more time in literary excursions!
Great opening chapter! I love how Dickens can introduce characters and create atmosphere and get the story going all effortlessly!He even has a graveyard in the first chapter, that seems very Dickensian :))
Lori, you said it perfectly. Dickens’ style here is unmistakable but also different from that of Dombey & Son.
Mulling chapter one over this afternoon - Blunderstone Rookery - Blunderstone - blunder, blundering
The rookery that wasn't, because it was just empty rook nests
I wonder if this was meant to be a description of Dickens' father - sort of a blundering, pretentious man.
Jenny - that got me, too - David thinking of his father's gravestone, his father locked out of the house. It seems a very believable child-like way to view death.
Sue - lol, yes, Mrs Chick always wanting people to make an effort :D I agree, Dickens' writing is fantastic - and it's only the first chapter!
Bridget - lol, Mr Chillip on the stairs :D Good point, I hadn't wondered about the age of David as the narrator. I just assumed a grown man - the tone doesn't sound like a teenager. Interesting that you say he couldn't recall his own birth. I began reading the Peter Ackroyd biography of Dickens today - apparently Dickens recalled things from as early as 2 years old! Not events so much as people - Mrs Pipchin was modeled on the woman who ran the boardinghouse the Dickens family lived in when CD was two.
Lori - You joined us yay! Did you visit Blundeston when you lived in England? I have so many literary sights I want to see someday in England!
The rookery that wasn't, because it was just empty rook nests
I wonder if this was meant to be a description of Dickens' father - sort of a blundering, pretentious man.
Jenny - that got me, too - David thinking of his father's gravestone, his father locked out of the house. It seems a very believable child-like way to view death.
Sue - lol, yes, Mrs Chick always wanting people to make an effort :D I agree, Dickens' writing is fantastic - and it's only the first chapter!
Bridget - lol, Mr Chillip on the stairs :D Good point, I hadn't wondered about the age of David as the narrator. I just assumed a grown man - the tone doesn't sound like a teenager. Interesting that you say he couldn't recall his own birth. I began reading the Peter Ackroyd biography of Dickens today - apparently Dickens recalled things from as early as 2 years old! Not events so much as people - Mrs Pipchin was modeled on the woman who ran the boardinghouse the Dickens family lived in when CD was two.
Lori - You joined us yay! Did you visit Blundeston when you lived in England? I have so many literary sights I want to see someday in England!
Janelle wrote: "Great opening chapter! I love how Dickens can introduce characters and create atmosphere and get the story going all effortlessly!
He even has a graveyard in the first chapter, that seems very Dick..."
So true! There's no buildup, we're just plopped right in to the action straightaway.
He even has a graveyard in the first chapter, that seems very Dick..."
So true! There's no buildup, we're just plopped right in to the action straightaway.
Cozy_Pug I could resist! Sadly I didn't visit Blundeston or very many literary sites. It was a different lifetime ago with me studying online for my masters degree and raising two boys in elementary school while trying to travel and see as much as possible in 3 years.
I love connecting to places when I read and I never thought I'd connect (albeit a place I've never been but still a connection) with Dickens!
Janelle, I do love how the characters were introduced and if you read Jean's thread she says tomorrow's chapter is really funny! Looking forward it. Getting 2nd covid vaccine tomorrow so hoping no side effects and I can read and read!!!
Lori wrote: "Cozy_Pug I could resist!
Sadly I didn't visit Blundeston or very many literary sites. It was a different lifetime ago with me studying online for my masters degree and raising two boys in element..."
That was a busy time for you! Hope your 2nd dose goes well. I had my first dose last Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop.
Sadly I didn't visit Blundeston or very many literary sites. It was a different lifetime ago with me studying online for my masters degree and raising two boys in element..."
That was a busy time for you! Hope your 2nd dose goes well. I had my first dose last Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop.
Reading the first chapter is my reminder why I love reading Dickens so much. He is a master storyteller and has an appropriate balance of humor and seriousness , as others have mentioned. I also like how he has a great skill in balancing shifts in time through his narrators, like moving from remembrances of the past to other times.
Chapter 2 tugs at my heartstrings from the child’s description of his mother and of Peggotty at the opening of the chapter to his backward glances as he leaves his mother for a ‘holiday’ in Yarmouth at the end. Dickens is such a master of character and scene description - to state the blindingly obvious! There are so many brilliant sentences and paragraphs to be savoured in this chapter that it would difficult to select just one, however Peggotty’s buttons forever popping will be unforgettable!
Yes, the buttons! So funny. I loved the scene in the church at the start, the child’s viewpoint was perfect.
Does anyone know how old David was supposed to be in this chapter? Perhaps I missed it. I was surprised he was able to read well enough to read to Peggotty.
Franky - Master storyteller is the perfect description for Dickens. There's not too many authors who draw me in and don't let me go the way he does. He truly had a gift for characterization, imagery, suspense, humor, drama, terror, sorrow - he mastered them all.
I'm not sure how old he is either. I just scanned the chapter and couldn't find it. I pictured him about four or five years old. Cozy Pug said - upthread a bit - that Dickens could remember back to when he was 2 years old (amazing!) but I think Davy must be older than that.
Mod
Yes:
Dombey and Son - Oct 1846 to April 1848
David Copperfield - May 1849 to November 1850
but so much of David Copperfield is taken from his autobiographical notes that it is worth remembering this when thinking about the style. It is a lovely exuberant novel, and I'm so glad you're getting that right from the start (Peggotty's buttons LOL! And in those days they were all cut off and sewn on again every time clothes were washed anyway!)
Chapter 2 really continued the fairy tale atmosphere for me. Everyone in the Rookery was happy - reading, dancing, talking, laughing. Then enter the dark stranger. The mood changes and we know this dark stranger is going to upset and maybe even ruin everything. His name is scary - Murdstone. It sounds murky - dark - and murderous.
I cannot believe Clara sent little David off with Mr Murdstone for a day. I was so worried he was going to kidnap David - especially when they went on the boat. Diabolical, nasty man - making fun of David with the Brooks of Sheffield business.
I'm really enjoying the reminiscences of David - he captures a child's perspective so well -
A great wind rises, and the summer is gone in a moment.
That so beautifully describes the feeling of time as a child - especially memories of time passing. I love his description of their home, how the hallway felt so long and a store cupboard was scary and to be passed quickly. It reminds me of that strange feeling you get as an adult, if you visit a home or place you spent time in as a child. You remember it being huge, but in fact it's quite small.
Remembering the furniture -
...the best parlour where we sit on a Sunday; grandly, but not so comfortably.
These descriptions all bring up so many of my childhood memories. It's fantastic!
Peggotty is a treasure - I love her!
‘Now let me hear some more about the Crorkindills,’ said Peggotty....
...she spoke of him as a morsel of English Grammar.
Thank goodness David has her, someone with a good head on her shoulders, who knows a thing or two about the ways of the world and who can see that Clara's vain, youthful head is being turned by dangerous man. Sadly Clara isn't listening.
And the chapter ends with this foreboding thought -
It touches me nearly now, although I tell it lightly, to recollect how eager I was to leave my happy home; to think how little I suspected what I did leave forever.
I cannot believe Clara sent little David off with Mr Murdstone for a day. I was so worried he was going to kidnap David - especially when they went on the boat. Diabolical, nasty man - making fun of David with the Brooks of Sheffield business.
I'm really enjoying the reminiscences of David - he captures a child's perspective so well -
A great wind rises, and the summer is gone in a moment.
That so beautifully describes the feeling of time as a child - especially memories of time passing. I love his description of their home, how the hallway felt so long and a store cupboard was scary and to be passed quickly. It reminds me of that strange feeling you get as an adult, if you visit a home or place you spent time in as a child. You remember it being huge, but in fact it's quite small.
Remembering the furniture -
...the best parlour where we sit on a Sunday; grandly, but not so comfortably.
These descriptions all bring up so many of my childhood memories. It's fantastic!
Peggotty is a treasure - I love her!
‘Now let me hear some more about the Crorkindills,’ said Peggotty....
...she spoke of him as a morsel of English Grammar.
Thank goodness David has her, someone with a good head on her shoulders, who knows a thing or two about the ways of the world and who can see that Clara's vain, youthful head is being turned by dangerous man. Sadly Clara isn't listening.
And the chapter ends with this foreboding thought -
It touches me nearly now, although I tell it lightly, to recollect how eager I was to leave my happy home; to think how little I suspected what I did leave forever.
Mod
Cozy-Pug, (or somebody) maybe you can link to my posts about Blunderston(e), with the original building used for "Blunderstone Rookery"? (Also perhaps explaining about the sharpness of "Brooks of Sheffield?" Rosemarie has linked to the current village life (thanks - are you reading this one? I'll add you in). I'm so pleased, Lori, that you're finding those posts useful :) They are always worth checking, for answers to those questions which may tend to occur to all of us.
Yes, the name “Blunderstone Rookery” is significant Cozy_Pug. Aunt Betsey relates how naïve David’s young parents were, making lots of blunders. But there is a very specific and instantly recognisable portrait of Charles Dickens's own father John Dickens later in the book. He’s a treat!
Mod
(I lost my posts as GR cannot deal with html at the moment except in edit! grrr. But am trying to recreate them!)
Janelle, I agree with your comment about the church scene, captures the child view perfectly. My book has an illustration by Phiz, and I think he placed Mr. Murdstone in a pew on the left staring intently at the pew with Davy, Clara and Peggotty. Mr. Murdstone is so chilling! I loved that little scene where he wants Clara to pick the geranium for him. It must be symbolic of things to come between Clara and Mr. Murdstone.
"He came in to look at a famous geranium we had, in the parlor-window. It did not appear to me that he took much notice of it, but before he went he asked my mother to give him a bit of the blossom. She begged him to choose it for himself, but he refused to do that -- I could not understand why -- so she plucked it for him, and gave it into his hand"
I know its just a flower, but I felt like shouting at the book -- don't do it Clara. Just kick him out.
Here's Jean's post on Blunderstone, from the DC chapters 1-14 thread, message 96 -
So here's a bit more, for those who are interested ...
David Copperfield right from the start is much more lighthearted than many of Charles Dickens's novels. I very much like the fact that he is narrating it. And the titles of the chapter are so very simple "I am born", "I observe", "I have a change" are the first 3 (They made up the first monthly installment).
All his earlier books had a couple of sentences for the chapter headings, and sometimes they acted as spoilers, telling what would happen in the following chapter. I think perhaps many Victorian novels did that. But this is so very streamlined - and I'm noticing that in the dialogue too.
The name of his home, "Blunderstone Rookery" is taken from a village Dickens had seen only a month previously, on a visit to Yarmouth and Lowestoft. And does the word "blunder" also perhaps indicate the way these two "babies" (as Betsey Trotwood termed them) approached the practicalities of life?
So here's a bit more, for those who are interested ...
David Copperfield right from the start is much more lighthearted than many of Charles Dickens's novels. I very much like the fact that he is narrating it. And the titles of the chapter are so very simple "I am born", "I observe", "I have a change" are the first 3 (They made up the first monthly installment).
All his earlier books had a couple of sentences for the chapter headings, and sometimes they acted as spoilers, telling what would happen in the following chapter. I think perhaps many Victorian novels did that. But this is so very streamlined - and I'm noticing that in the dialogue too.
The name of his home, "Blunderstone Rookery" is taken from a village Dickens had seen only a month previously, on a visit to Yarmouth and Lowestoft. And does the word "blunder" also perhaps indicate the way these two "babies" (as Betsey Trotwood termed them) approached the practicalities of life?
Mod
Basically this chapter covers quite a few years, such as the whimsically humorous "I was born" onwards. Charles Dickens remains unspecific as to ages - unlike the precise timings in Dombey and Son.
He anticipates your question, and covers himself by saying:
"This may be fancy, though I think the memory of most of us can go farther back into such times than many of us suppose; just as I believe the power of observation in numbers of very young children to be quite wonderful for its closeness and accuracy ... I might have a misgiving that I am 'meandering' in stopping to say this, but that it brings me to remark that I build these conclusions, in part upon my own experience of myself."
Mod
The Rookery
(There is a problem with html, today Cozy_Pug - one of the GR staff told me. It's driven me mad all day too.)
As for "Brooks of Sheffield", the joke is that Sheffield is known as the City of Steel and famous for making sharp knives. David is a "sharp" little boy, who would listen in, and be likely to understand what the adults were talking about. There is a whole story about this - you know where :)
Mod
"Our Pew at Church" - Phiz (Hablot K. Browne) - May 1849
Thanks for posting the link to the picture of the church scene. My link was gut off at the left edge, which is where I think Mr. Murdstone is sitting. Here's another link to try. What do you think? https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...
Bridget - Yes, now that I've seen other links, the PG image is cut off on the left. Thank you for the better link!
While I was struggling with loading an illustration, Jean recused me! Perfect - thank you so much for your picture help, Jean!
While I was struggling with loading an illustration, Jean recused me! Perfect - thank you so much for your picture help, Jean!
OK! I think I've managed to get an illustration of Mr Murdstone in here, by Kyd
And Aunt Betsey, also by Kyd!
"David as a child and Peggotty of an evening before the fireplace in the parlour", by Fred Barnard
Thanks for your answers, Bridget & Jean. I was fascinated to see your comment about buttons, Jean - no wonder they popped off, it wouldn’t be worth sewing them on too firmly if they only had to be removed again soon.
Bridget - the geranium thing was subtly creepy. It should be romantic, but it felt more like a symbol of Mr Murdstone trying to take something from Clara. And he tricked her into willingly giving this something to him.
I agree that day trip Davy took with Mr Murdstone was frightening. And didn’t he give the child wine too, if I’m not misremembering? The portents for the future aren’t good. I hope Peggoty stays in his life.
Agreed....the Murdstone is no good. I got the impression though that Clara, like all women of the time, needed economic security so in some ways had no choice. Or maybe I put that interpretation on because I didn't see her vanity. Not defending Murd, but children of the time often drank mead, ale or wine. Water was suspect and believed to cause illness.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
David Copperfield (other topics)A Message from the Sea (other topics)
Bleak House (other topics)
Little Dorrit (other topics)
A Message from the Sea (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
John Forster (other topics)
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Have fun everyone David Copperfield was Charles Dickens's own favourite novel after all :)