p>CHARLES DICKENS
David Copperfield
DAVID COPPERFIELD
‘Of all my books,’ wrote Charles Dickens, ‘I like this the best. Like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.’
Dickens himself had a difficult, unhappy childhood, and young David’s life is not at all easy. His father died before he was born, and when he is eight, his mother marries again. Her new husband, Mr Murdstone, is stern and cruel, and so is his disagreeable sister, the stony-faced Miss Murdstone. As he grows up, David meets many unpleasant people – cruel schoolmasters, wicked friends, and the evil Uriah Heep, with his oily smile.
But there are other people in David’s life too. There is Peggotty, his kind loving nurse, and slow Mr Barkis, a man of very few words. There is David’s aunt, who tries hard to be stern but who has a heart of gold. There are the unlucky Micawbers, cheerful and despairing by turns, always waiting for something to ‘turn up’. There is quiet gentle Agnes, always a true and wise friend. And then there is Dora, the loveliest girl you ever saw, with her golden hair and blue eyes – sweet, pretty, silly Dora …
PEOPLE IN THIS STORY
David Copperfield
Mrs Clara Copperfield, David’s mother
Peggotty, the Copperfields’ servant
Daniel Peggotty, her brother
Mr Edward Murdstone, David’s stepfather
Miss Murdstone, Mr Murdstone’s sister
Mr Barkis, a cart driver
Mr Micawber, an unsuccessful businessman
Mrs Micawber, his wife
Miss Betsey Trotwood, David’s aunt
Mr Dick, Miss Trotwood’s companion
Mr Wickfield, Miss Trotwood’s lawyer
Agnes, Mr Wickfield’s daughter
Uriah Heep, Mr Wickfield’s assistant
Mrs Heep, Uriah Heep’s mother
Mr Spenlow, a lawyer
Dora, Mr Spenlow’s daughter
Miss Julia Mills, Dora’s friend
I was born at Blunderstone, in Suffolk, in the east of England, and was given my poor father’s name, David Copperfield. Sadly, he never saw me. He was much older than my mother when they married, and died six months before I was born. My father’s death made my beautiful young mother very unhappy, and she knew she would find life extremely difficult with a new baby and no husband.
The richest and most important person in our family was my father’s aunt, Miss Betsey Trotwood. She had in fact been married once, to a handsome young husband. But because he demanded money from her, and sometimes beat her, she decided they should separate. He went abroad, and soon news came of his death. Miss Trotwood bought a small house by the sea, and lived there alone, with only one servant.
She had not spoken to my father since his marriage, because she considered he had made a mistake in marrying a very young girl. But just before I was born, when she heard that my mother was expecting a baby, she came to visit Blunderstone.
It was a cold, windy Friday afternoon in March. My mother was sitting by the fire, feeling very lonely and unhappy, and crying a little. Suddenly a stern, strange-looking face appeared at the window.
‘Open the door!’ ordered the stern-faced lady. My mother was shocked, but obeyed at once. ‘You must be David Copperfield’s wife,’ said the lady as she entered. ‘I’m Betsey Trotwood. You’ve heard of me?’
‘Yes,’ whispered my mother, trembling.
‘How young you are!’ cried Miss Betsey. ‘Just a baby!’
My mother started sobbing again. ‘I know I look like a child! I know I was young to be a wife, and I’m young to be a mother! But perhaps I’ll die before I become a mother!’
‘Come, come!’ answered Miss Betsey. ‘Have some tea. Then you’ll feel better. What do you call your girl?’
‘My girl? I don’t know yet that it will be a girl,’ replied my mother miserably.
‘No, I don’t mean the baby, I mean your servant!’
‘Her name’s Peggotty. Her first name’s Clara, the same as mine, so I call her by her family name, you see.’
‘What a terrible name! However, never mind. Peggotty!’ she called, going to the door. ‘Bring Mrs Copperfield some tea at once!’ She sat down again and continued speaking. ‘You were talking about the baby. I’m sure it’ll be a girl. Now, as soon as she’s born …’
‘He, perhaps,’
