David Copperfield

Author: Charles Dickens
Year: 1850

Having struggled through several other Dickens novels, I decided to give David Copperfield a try. It is rumored to be his greatest work (along with Great Expectations, which was a bit disappointing, to me at least) so I was hoping it might possess something that elevated it among the others. Well, within the first chapter of the 800+ page novel, I found that the rumors were true. David Copperfield is a complete masterpiece. Beginning with the night of his birth and ending several decades later, this epic novel is a perfect example of Dickens' hearty sense of humor, deep pathos for his characters, and strong outrage against the injustices of modern life. Unlike other Dickens novels, the meandering sideplots only deepen the novel and create a world where every character's life tells a fascinating story.

Readers more used to modern conventions of realism and frank storytelling may be a bit put off by Dickens' whimsical characterizations and use of staggering coincidence. But these were very common in his time, when novels were published in monthly or weekly serial installments. The use of coincidence can be a exaggerated at times, but Dickens uses it more tastefully here than in previous novels (Oliver Twist and Great Expectations spring to mind). And it is always used to enhance the drama of the individual stories, giving them deeply ironic twists that could never occur when simply reciting things as they would probably occur. Similarly, the intense villainy of Uriah Heep, the naive pompousness of Wilkins Micawber, and the angelic goodness of Agnes Wickfield (to name a few) may seem exaggerated and one-dimensional, but nonetheless these characters greatly enhance the narrative and stand as some of the most unique individuals in literature.

There are so many incredible events over the course of the novel, that I am reluctant to give anything away. So I'll leave you with the memorable opening line to hopefully whet your appetite: "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anyone else, these pages must show."

Value: Gold