David Copperfield

REFLECTING on David Copperfield (1850), Charles Dickens wrote in the preface to a later edition of his eighth novel: ‘Of all my books, I like this the best.’ It has long been a favourite among readers, too, although, perhaps surprisingly, its early sales did not match those of its immediate predecessor, Dombey and Son.

is loved for its fond evocation of childhood, some of which was drawn from the author’s memories of his early years, not all of which, it must be added, were pleasant. It is also populated by several