David Copperfield

Written by Charles Dickens

Narrated by Nicholas Boulton

The intensely personal David Copperfield (widely regarded to be the most autobiographical of the author’s novels) is one of Dickens’ greatest works. We follow David Copperfield from birth and miserable childhood to inevitable tragedies, until he finally finds happiness later in life. Full of some of the most memorable characters in literary history, Nicholas Boulton’s depiction of the oily Uriah Heep and David Copperfield’s sinister stepfather Murdstone, do the novel full justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Feb 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781843795704

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

Reviews for David Copperfield

[Kim Ravii · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This an amazing story I had read it I like this writer

[infantinanivetha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a terrific story! This book was part of our school curriculum when I was doing my seventh grade. I simply loved it. If you haven't read, you must read it.

[tori · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I’ve ever read, truly incredible

[Joe Barry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fucking Brilliant, loved it from the start to the finish!

[Amanda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration of a wonderful novel. I was taken completely back to Dickens’s time.

[Jennifer Foo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nicholas Boulton’s narration is absolutely magnificent. Words can’t do it justice. His characters, both male and female, are perfection. So funny. So moving. So entertaining. I read another reviewer say they were depressed for days when it ended, and I can understand why.

[Megan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A long, slow and faithful account of one man’s experience of being human.

[Bob Orange · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing piece of fiction and probably one of his best. The narration is heads above the best I have ever heard. The range of voices and accents are astonishing. I can't recommend this audio book highly enough.

[Reyna Ford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing and delightful performance by Nicholas Boulton! I'm going to look for more books performed by him, regardless of title or author.

[Lucia Garcia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Complex plot and wonderful writing. Could have used some editing.

[Gerry Budd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best of all of the wonderful Dickens soap operas!!!

[allie c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars. This was fantastic and such an engaging read. Wow

[Jenny Baerlocher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliantly narrated! It really brought the fascinating characters to life.

[Oli Permaculture · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've started speaking and writing in a manner which unfortunately apes this indelibly remarkable author, much to the chagrin of those who occasionally benefit me with thier exalted company. Daymn Dickins is a bad man boss!

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took me a long time to read David Copperfield -- because I stalled in the middle for... well, about three months. It's hard for me to review it as a whole, in that light. I remember reading it when I was younger quite vividly, but I'm not sure I ever got past the first few chapters, back then. It's contrived to get tangled up in my mind with Great Expectations, somehow.

It's interesting to know that this book is thought to be based largely on Dickens' own life. I don't know if he ever said that himself, or whether it was deduced by other people. If he did look on David as himself, it's a wonder he wrote about him so frankly. It certainly seems like a lifetime's worth of Dickens' experience went into creating it, anyway.

I liked it a lot, despite the length and Dickens' tendency to go on a bit. I felt sorry for David a lot, and sometimes wanted to slap him -- which is the way I feel about some of my favourite characters, and shouldn't make you think I didn't like him.

[aszala · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant - the narrator is a man of 1000 voices! I was gripped.

[mazda502001 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I do find Dicken's books hard going and it takes me forever to read one of his books. This is one of my favourites.Back Cover Blurb:Through his hero Dickens draws openly on his own life, as David Copperfield recalls his experiences from childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist. Rosa Dartle, Dora, Steerforth and Uriah Heep are among the characters who focus the hero's sexual and emotional drives, and Mr Micawber, a portrait of Dicken's own father, evokes the mixture of love, nostalgia and guilt that, put together, make this Dicken's the most quoted and best-loved novel.

[libbromus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a listen and WHAT a listen it was! Richard Armitage narrates, nay, he performs this book better than I ever could have read it for myself, better than any movie or TV series produced. He is astounding in his range, grace, understatement, mirth, and sadness. He acts every character with depth and understanding. Every character. Bravo. A thousand times, Bravo. As for the story, well, I bloody loved it. The last and only Dickens I ever read was Great Expectations in high school. And we all know how that goes. I was indifferent. Knowing David Copperfield makes me want to know them all. With the exception of the Murdstones, whose fate I will simply have to imagine as being of the foulest kind, all the story lines were tied up very satisfactorily. What a ride of emotion and archetype and subtlety! Superb!

[Nick Taggart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narrator. He nails every character's accent and manner every time. A beautiful experience. Needless to say, Dickens' prose tickles the soul.

[dbsovereign · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read in one very long weekend, this book is still my favorite Dickens - and I like him without admiring him in all his aspects. Reminds me of Austin, Texas.

[sixteendays · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At the completion of this novel, my only complaint is that I took so long to work my way through it. Not that I don't cherish the time I spent with it, but more that the time I spent was far too infrequent.How is it possible that I can find so much of myself in the depths of a 19th Century, fictional and notedly male character? It can only be the flowing associations of the heart, wither it's strength or is undisciplined aspects. Copperfield's fortitude through a life of fear, loss and some of the most downtrodden adventures ever known to literature is truly inspiring for anyone who has felt they can't possibly make it over the next big mountain in their lives.I can genuinely say that is the most profitable 99 cents I've ever spent at a secondhand store and that it's coffee stains, torn and battered covers are well deserved indeed.

[pgchuis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Extremely enjoyable, with special mentions to Tommy Traddles, aunt Trotwood and, of course, Mr Micawber. Miss Dartle was a bit dark and twisted. I thought Dickens did a good job of foreshadowing Steerforth's superficiality and lack of morality and I also found the reality check of actually being married to the deeply annoying (to me) Dora both sad and true.

[VDavidJames · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unforgettable characters in a perfectly paced narrative. Excellent audio recording!

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was both exasperating and charming. At the same time, tedious and compelling. Some of the characters I lose patience with, but others are delightful. There were moments I laughed out loud and I don't think I will ever think of Uriah Heep without a shudder. I will certainly never forget him.

[eurekas_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first read this to Ted many years ago. I remember we were out, Monterey maybe, sitting on a bench, he had his head in my lap when I read "I am born." Good times!

[therebelprince · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Written in 1850, Dickens' 16th major work, and 8th novel, is a solid four-star work. Combining the picaresque bildungsroman from Dickens' early period with the more complex character studies he was becoming known for, it's perhaps his best book to this point. Perhaps because parts of the novel are autobiographical, David starts to feel a bit real in a sense that perhaps no other character in his canon had perhaps yet reached. There's a wonderful array of supporting characters and a real sense of forward movement and thematic unity. I'm ultimately more in tune with Dickens' last works, but David Copperfield is another rung on Dickens' ladder to immortality. He's not a Tolstoy or a Flaubert, and we shouldn't expect him to be. He treats character more as something to be chronicled than to be dissected. Nevertheless, there are many great, detailed little moments in David's life, and the world around him, that suggest the continuous development of this great author.

[overgaard-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

first recalled incident of a husband disappointed in his wife's kitchen abilities; she did not have an extra chop when he brought home his friend to dinner - without warning ha

[kslade-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good long autobiographical novel from Dickens. I still liked Great Expectations better but this one is almost as good.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The life story of David Copperfield, hugely enjoyable.

[emmakendon_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's been years since I've read any Dickens, and I'd never yet read David Copperfield, though I think it was my mum's favourite. The women drove me nuts, so much so that even the great characters of Micawber, Heap, Traddles and Aunt Betsy couldn't save it. Peggoty and family are desperately sentimental too, and Steerforth's character just stops. I'm bemused, frankly.