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David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

Narrated by David himself, this bildungsroman follows his journey from infancy to maturity through Victorian England.

"David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens is a novel. Narrated by David himself, this bildungsroman follows his journey from infancy to maturity through Victorian England.

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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. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.

In consideration of the day and hour of my birth, it was declared by the nurse, and by some sage women in the neighbourhood who had taken a lively interest in me several months before there was any possibility of our becoming personally acquainted, first, that I was destined to be unlucky in life; and secondly, that I was privileged to see ghosts and spirits; both these gifts inevitably attaching, as they believed, to all unlucky infants of either gender, born towards the small hours on a Friday night.

I need say nothing here, on the first head, because nothing can show better than my history whether that prediction was verified or falsified by the result. On the second branch of the question, I will only remark, that unless I ran through that part of my inheritance while I was still a baby, I have not come into it yet. But I do not at all complain of having been kept out of this property; and if anybody else should be in the present enjoyment of it, he is heartily welcome to keep it.

Contents

  1. 01Preface to 1850 Edition
  2. 02Preface to the Charles Dickens Edition
  3. 03The Personal History and Experience of David Copperfield the Younger
  4. 04Chapter 1. I Am Born
  5. 05Chapter 2. I Observe
  6. 06Chapter 3. I Have a Change
  7. 07Chapter 4. I Fall Into Disgrace
  8. 08Chapter 5. I Am Sent Away from Home
  9. 09Chapter 6. I Enlarge My Circle of Acquaintance
  10. 10Chapter 7. My ‘First Half’ at Salem House
  11. 11Chapter 8. My Holidays. Especially One Happy Afternoon
  12. 12Chapter 9. I Have a Memorable Birthday
  13. 13Chapter 10. I Become Neglected, and Am Provided for
  14. 14Chapter 11. I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don’t Like It
  15. 15Chapter 12. Liking Life on My Own Account No Better, I Form a Great Resolution
  16. 16Chapter 13. The Sequel of My Resolution
  17. 17Chapter 14. My Aunt Makes Up Her Mind About Me
  18. 18Chapter 15. I Make Another Beginning
  19. 19Chapter 16. I Am a New Boy in More Senses Than One
  20. 20Chapter 17. Somebody Turns Up
  21. 21Chapter 18. A Retrospect
  22. 22Chapter 19. I Look About Me, and Make a Discovery
  23. 23Chapter 20. Steerforth’s Home
  24. 24Chapter 21. Little Em’ly
  25. 25Chapter 22. Some Old Scenes, and Some New People
  26. 26Chapter 23. I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession
  27. 27Chapter 24. My First Dissipation
  28. 28Chapter 25. Good and Bad Angels
  29. 29Chapter 26. I Fall Into Captivity
  30. 30Chapter 27. Tommy Traddles
  31. 31Chapter 28. Mr. Micawber’s Gauntlet
  32. 32Chapter 29. I Visit Steerforth at His Home, Again
  33. 33Chapter 30. A Loss
  34. 34Chapter 31. A Greater Loss
  35. 35Chapter 32. The Beginning of a Long Journey
  36. 36Chapter 33. Blissful
  37. 37Chapter 34. My Aunt Astonishes Me
  38. 38Chapter 35. Depression
  39. 39Chapter 36. Enthusiasm
  40. 40Chapter 37. A Little Cold Water
  41. 41Chapter 38. A Dissolution of Partnership
  42. 42Chapter 39. Wickfield and Heep
  43. 43Chapter 40. The Wanderer
  44. 44Chapter 41. Dora’s Aunts
  45. 45Chapter 42. Mischief
  46. 46Chapter 43. Another Retrospect
  47. 47Chapter 44. Our Housekeeping
  48. 48Chapter 45. Mr. Dick Fulfils My Aunt’s Predictions
  49. 49Chapter 46. Intelligence
  50. 50Chapter 47. Martha
  51. 51Chapter 48. Domestic
  52. 52Chapter 49. I Am Involved in Mystery
  53. 53Chapter 50. Mr. Peggotty’s Dream Comes True
  54. 54Chapter 51. The Beginning of a Longer Journey
  55. 55Chapter 52. I Assist at an Explosion
  56. 56Chapter 53. Another Retrospect
  57. 57Chapter 54. Mr. Micawber’s Transactions
  58. 58Chapter 55. Tempest
  59. 59Chapter 56. The New Wound, and the Old
  60. 60Chapter 57. The Emigrants

About this edition

Author
Charles Dickens
Era
Modern (c. 1800–1945)
Reading level
Intermediate: some philosophy helps
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
977 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers