David Copperfield Charles Dickens

1812 – 1870 in England was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era worked in the shoe-polish factory like 10 years old boy worked in the law office 1830 met his first love Maria 1836 he married Catherine, the daughter of his editor, they had ten children

David Copperfield is a novel it was published in 1850 it is probably the most autobiographical of all of his novels

Storyline of David Copperfield His father died before he was born. When he is eight, his mother marries again. His new stepfather is stern and cruel. His stepfather beats him all the time, then he sents him away to a boarding school.

David returns home for the holidays and he finds out that his mother has a baby boy. Then he goes back to school. Suddenly his mother and her baby die and David returns home again. His stepfather sends him to work in a factory in London.

Lately David decides to run away. He walks all the way from London to Dover, to find his only aunt Miss Betsey. She tries to be stern but she has a heart of gold. David starts work in lawyer firm of Mr Wickfield, a lawyer of his aunt He meets with his daughter Agnes, he falls in love.

Then he becomes successful lawyer. He marries Dora, who is really adorable girl. She dies suddenly of illness. Then David realizes that he always loves Agnes. Finally they get married, live happy together, have a lot of children.

my opinion The story is really great, when you read it, you seriously feel like David. You must admire him, he reaches his dreams, after his cruel childhood. After all he had to suffer, he does not give up, but he tries to reach it. He is really brave, when you can see that it is an autobiographical novel, you can admire Charles Dickens, he is the real hero of the book.

My negative opinion is only that there are a lot of similar names of the men, like the owner of the factory or the lawyer. There are also a lot of characters, but I think in the original book it does not matter.

adaptations There are a lot of film, TV and theatres adaptations 1999, shown on BBC (Daniel Radcliffe) 2000, directed by Peter Medak

five new words stern – přísný, striktní blush – červenat se willing – ochotný warehouse – skladiště eager - horlivý difficulty of English - 5

quotations "You'll find us rough, sir, but you'll find us ready." "A loving heart was better and stronger than wisdom." "Accidents will occur in the best regulated families."