Who told Dickens about Copperfield's life. Charles dickens - the life of david copperfield, told by himself

The novel made a strong impression on me: it sweetened my mind, enriched my soul, diversified the palette of feelings. The beginning sagged a little: reading about the baby's vision of the house and about his pastime was not entirely exciting, and about the trials associated with the mother's second marriage, it was hard (how hard it is to see firsthand the suffering of children). However, I read avidly about David Copperfield's adventures, from the trip to Dover to the very last page of the book.

David himself, sometimes too naive ("Blind, blind, blind!"), Delights with his cordiality, purity of soul, lack of cunning and suspicion. He resembles Prince Myshkin, who was fortunate enough not to be branded as feeble-minded by the kindness of his soul. He was not lucky with his loved ones right away, but they always supported him for who he is. That's how I like him.

The characters surrounding the narrator and the protagonist are varied, but clearly identifiable: good versus bad. Terrible grandmother, comic in appearance (but hard on the inside) Miss Moucher; Rose Dartle and her love just ask for a separate book; Traddles and his protracted engagement, Steerforth vs Ham, the girls who slipped in their path; David's teachers and mentors; of course, Littimer, Heep, Krickle and others like them - a gallery of faces and their stories. Only Mr. Micawber, in spite of everything, is dear to the author and in any situation is justified and, in the end, successful. That is the will of the author.

Perhaps the story of David Copperfield is slightly idealized, somewhat implausible, but it is instructive, good in conclusions (about marriage, work, duty, religiosity, honesty, good and evil). And let the crooks and liars be punished. And let loving hearts unite.

Score: 10

Now I at least have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bwhat Holden meant by "David Copperfield's dregs." Indeed, dregs. Yes, Dickens fans will forgive me, but how did I torment this book - I haven't read anything for a long time with such a creak and gnashing of teeth. And God knows, if not for the St. Petersburg-Kiev train, in which there is still nothing more to do for a day ...

To begin with, this book can be used to teach young linguists. How NOT to translate. Because I haven't seen such a disgusting translation for a very long time. I didn't check it with the original, but I have a clear feeling that this is a banal tracing paper from the original, translation word by word, while maintaining the completely unnatural English sentence structure in Russian. Even where there is a similar stable expression in Russian, which would be both shorter and more beautiful, Lann and Krivtsova prefer word-by-word translation. I remembered the only pearl - "The hut of happiness is better than the Palace of cold luxury, and where there is love, there is everything." Apparently, high religious convictions did not allow pirivodchegam to write something like "with a cute paradise and in a hut"

The result is literally the following: most of the text is "excess water". What looks rather short and succinct in English, when translated into Russian word-by-word, becomes an eerie furious bureaucracy, long periods. To be honest, I read the text diagonally. And at the same time, it seems, she lost absolutely nothing, and even gained (or at least retained the remains of her nerves).

Individual moments - when translators try to convey some emotions - are the worst. Because where Dickens, judging by the plot, should have love, friendship, sympathy, affection, and so on. - the translators have such disgusting snot in sugar that it seems that it was not Dickens who wrote it, but Dolores Umbridge. Everything sounds too pasofy and unnatural.

In general, IMHO, as far as it is possible to kill a book by translation, so much this translation killed her. I hope the translators will forever burn in hell ((

As for the novel itself (which can hardly be discerned behind such a terrible text), it is, in general, a rather ordinary novel-education. And, in my opinion, rather boring and stretched. True, here it is already difficult to distinguish where the border of the author's responsibility is, and where - the translators. I was especially embarrassed by the author's manner of jumping over rather long periods of time for no reason. Like, fell in love, got married, lived together - it's all long and detailed. And then one short shot: the wife once - and died. An excellent move, and I am tempted to ask about justify, although what kind of life there is - it is generally a strange thing. But these sudden abbreviations of the text - I will not name it otherwise - were somehow very disconcerting.

Moreover, perhaps the most interesting characters were the main villains - Uriah Heep and Rose Dartle. They are at least not sweetly plush and are not endowed with the Dorian-Gray crown of beauty and meanness, like some others. Lively and vicious, which is much more true than the "noble poor" of the Peggotty family. Yes, I'm an old evil cynic, but this whole line causes me a dull irritation. Only Dora infuriates more, but Dora is generally a diagnosis. Lord, Dickens managed to perfectly deduce what is called "blundingo" in the modern world, and so clearly - I no longer remember such a vivid image of this type in literature)

In general, I find it difficult to say something about the plot. Biography and biography. The hero's path, as they say, from rags to riches, which very revealingly ends with the hero acquiring a stable financial situation and acquiring a family, and all the ill-wishers he meets on his life path are defeated in the dust. Not that it is completely unreliable, but somehow it is too strongly accentuated, it causes more a smile than a sincere belief that "revenge is mine, and I will repay." The beginning, about childhood, was terribly boring, perhaps the most interesting period concerns Steerforth (or whatever?) And the beginning of his career. All IMHO, of course. A very typical portrait in the interior turned out, and I will not say that it is in any way entertaining.

Rating: 4

There is so much magic in this book! Truly, this is Dickens's best novel and one of the best novels of the 19th century, century. in which culture and literature became available to many. Dickens is a humanist and romantic, a bit dark mystic, poet and magician of the word. The novel is full of marvelous images, descriptions of nature and the city, seasons and elements. Wonderful, musical, colorful are the descriptions of the seashores dotted with shells (Newton is remembered at the end of his life), the roads along which David wanders at the beginning and end of the book, rain and storms in the city and the sea, cozy rooms and cute trinkets, the house in which he lives Jeep. The author draws almost all the heroes of the novel in bright colors. Some of them remained completely unclear. This is, of course, Steerforth, arrogant and unkind, but also capable of manifestations of friendship, and Mr. Dick, perhaps, choosing the role of the blessed one of his own free will. Uriah Hip is very bright, especially in his frank speeches in the scene of exposure, and at the end of the book, already in prison. Perhaps his real antagonist is not David, but Mr. Dick, who brings goodness and peace, and a smile. He is especially remarkable in his words about Dr. Strong: “He is so humble, so humble, he condescends even to poor Dick, who is weak in mind and knows nothing. I wrote his name on a piece of paper and sent a kite along the string when he was in the sky, among the larks. The kite was so happy to have it, sir, and the skies just brighter! " In these words we can see a kind of invocation and appeal to heaven, but in a special language, accessible to few. You can recall the story of L.N. Tolstoy about three elders with their words: "three of you, three of us ..." One of the most touching heroes of the novel is Dora. A heavenly flower, a beautiful Eloy from the Time Machine, which for some reason ended up on earth. Poor and beautiful girl-wife, who with infinite wisdom asked Agnes to take her place. These and many other heroes of the novel deserve to be played by the best actors on the screen and in the theater. The novel, in general, is very good for film adaptation, theater production and, probably, musicalization (staging as a musical). The internal monologues of the protagonist, his internal wanderings in his soul are excellent. It's a little scary when you read and understand his thoughts about Dora. It is a pity that David did not explain himself to Steerforth. Of course, I don't mean another slap in the face. There is not as much sentiment in the novel as it might seem at first. And this is not a parenting novel. It can be called a novel of human development and change. And in it you can also see England, of which the author is very proud, but also well sees its shortcomings. The translation of Krivtsova and Lann is also excellent. Thanks to the author and translators for the pleasure I got reading the novel. Undoubtedly, I will return to it more than once.

Score: 10

Dickens, good old Dickens! Where would we be without your beautiful novels, without those role models that you unobtrusively deduce in them, without this idea of \u200b\u200bgood honest people that we can all be ...

I cannot express in words how much I liked David Copperfield! It has everything: wonderful bright live characters who instantly become your friends; dramatic events that make you cry excitedly; subtle humor - not the one from which you laugh while rolling on the bed, but causing a constant cheerful smile of joy; exciting adventures; and, of course, the final, where everyone gets what they deserve.

If you choose your favorite character, then it will be Grandma Trotwood. "Janet! Donkeys! " And the most annoying, all of a sudden, Dora - oh, how she pissed me off! I certainly agree that it is better to be a kind fool than a smart bitch, but not the same phenomenal idiot who does not want to think about anything at all !!! The only worthwhile phrase in her life she said about the future of their marriage ...

The story of Dr. and Mrs. Strong is extremely instructive. The soul ached for them, and both of them are the best spouses.

So far, this is the best thing I have read from Dickens, and definitely goes to the shelf of my favorite books.

Score: 10

There are books, reading which you enjoy the style and syllable more than what happens in the text. The sensation is as pleasant as it is ambiguous if you try to describe it. Of all the books I have read, two have given me such a feeling, and one of them is "David Copperfield". I'm not sure, perhaps if the author wrote not about the life of an interesting character surrounded by remarkably written characters and equally carefully deduced events, but just a set of descriptions of the countryside or his working day, it would still be fascinating to read. I think if this feeling of a syllable arises, then the book is for you.

There are drawbacks. The story itself is not very realistic, although the hardships that the author sends to the heroes are not at all fantastic. The beginning did not seem too long to me, but in the finale the incomprehensible stupor of the hero begins to strain.

And what is most interesting - David himself, with all his positiveness, is only an observer, not an arbiter.

Score: 10

Dickens is a really great writer, one of the titans of world literature, his name is on a par with Shakespeare, Goethe, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky ... And this book is perhaps his best - of those that everyone who can read should read.

Score: 10

"The Life of David Copperfield, Telling Himself" in two books by Charles Dickens - plus one more novel in my piggy bank (although I don't even remember why I decided to read it).

They wrote that, in part, this is his biography, but it is also true, only in part, or rather, some points coincide, because I then, again, read a short biography of Dickens.

The novel is written in such a text that it is pleasant to read it, but ... I (this is my personal opinion) is not very interesting, or rather not even interesting (double negation), there is interest, otherwise I would not have read it, but it does not capture. Everything is very protracted, the hero thinks a lot about his life, many dialogues are “stretched out” ... perhaps this is some kind of special writing style - “Dickensian”.

So, the story is in the first person. The boy's fate is not the most rosy, he has to go through losses, experiences and suffering at a young age. And all significant people in the boy's fate, as he grows up, take part in a series of events that lead to a rather interesting plot of the plot, albeit a little protracted. The climax and denouement of the plot take place already when the boy grew up and turned out to be a wonderful gentleman.

Such a sample of novels of the 19th century, I am glad that I have read it and have some idea of \u200b\u200bEnglish culture, to a greater extent.

Score: 8

A person must accept both good and bad. This is what he must get used to in this life.

Thorny and long my path in the work of Charles Dickens. My problem is that nothing is more sleepy than branchy and sweeping descriptions of everything and everyone. Seriously, the producers of sleeping pills nervously smoke on the sidelines, because as soon as Dickens is taken in the hands, the apartment is filled with iridescent snoring. But with what attitude I take it! Of course, there are also successful books, completely absorbing and enveloping that you forget about the time and are sincerely surprised that day has changed to night. Strangely, I avoided David Copperfield so diligently, which is my fatal mistake. I think, although I won't say with certainty, I should have started my acquaintance with this particular novel, but let's move away from such a voluminous introductory word and move on to the book itself.

David Copperfield is one of Dickens's most famous novels. His favorite. A kind of autobiography. There are so many people in David's life that I was disheartened (well, I can't remember the names, especially if they just glimpsed the page). Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy admired the novel, I am not surprised, because these couple are still fans of writing long novels with a heartbreaking plot and colorful characters. But we are not talking about them now, because I want to figure out what is so special about David Copperfield.

Perhaps I should immediately warn you that our GG did not make such a strong impression on me as on many others. Of course, David's life was difficult, but as he grew older, there was nothing in him that would make him more interesting ... I don't know how to express it correctly, but his life can be called smooth, only a small storm at the beginning, and then he just got comfortable.

The marriage of David to Dora (fucking violet) was not so ripe that it soon began to weigh him down. In general, Dora is a separate topic for conversation. You still have to look for such a stupid creature, although I'm surprised that it's different now. Dora is so vulnerable and impressionable that, I suppose, if she fart in the toilet, she would faint for another two hours from such a shameful act. In short, as soon as this lady began to appear in the novel, it was so stupid to turn the pages, because besides the cute and cute thoughts and speeches, uttered now from David, then from Dora, one could drown in this love syrup. And this is considering that I hate this in books.

The novel is oversaturated with heroes. But the brightest, and the best, part of it for me is Betsy Trotwood, David's grandmother. I liked the old woman. Betsa's attitude, her outlook on life, was the most sober and noteworthy. Her attitude to marriage alone deserves a round of applause!

4. David is not just a hero, but also an observer of the events taking place.

Score: 9

The Life of David Copperfield is the eighth novel by the renowned English writer Charles Dickens. At the time of publication of the work, Dickens's star was already shining brightly in the firmament of world literature. The public read his Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, Barneby Raj and Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, and Antiquities Shop.

The first chapters of the life story of David Copperfield began to appear in 1849. The last, fifth, publication was made in 1850. The main character, who is also the narrator, begins the story from the moment of his own birth, and we part with a mature man, successful, in demand in his business, in love and beloved family man.

Knowing the biography of Dickens, you can find many autobiographical moments in the novel. This is also indicated by the form of the narration - the story is conducted in the first person. Of course, you should not completely identify the author and the main character. David Copperfield is primarily an artistic image, inspired by the author's memories and the irrepressible fantasy of the great prose writer.

Let's remember how the life of David Copperfield developed.

David Copperfield was born on Friday at twelve o'clock in the morning. The first cry of the baby coincided with the first strike of the clock. The nurse and some experienced neighbors saw in this a series of mystical omens. Firstly, the boy was promised a difficult fate, full of trials and suffering, and, secondly, they assured the mother that her son would see spirits and ghosts.

Years later, Copperfield analyzes that the first part of the dubious "inheritance" went to him in full, but the second has not yet passed into his possession, which, by the way, he absolutely does not regret.

David's young mother did not care much about the predictions of the neighbors. At that moment she was occupied with absolutely not fascinating everyday problems. For example, how to feed your son and yourself. The thing is that David's father died suddenly four months before his birth, and the young Mrs. Copperfield, who was not adapted to life, did not know at all what to do next.

Just before the birth, the sister of her late husband, Miss Betsy Trotwood, came to her house. This domineering strong woman volunteered to help her daughter-in-law and her girl. Miss Betsy was somehow convinced that Mrs. Copperfield would certainly have a daughter. With his birth, David so upset his aunt that she, without saying goodbye, ran out of her daughter-in-law's house and never appeared there again.

Meanwhile, young David Copperfield grew up. He was looked after by a loving mother and caring servant Peggotty. But soon the happy times in David's life came to an end - his mother remarried. Her chosen one, Mr. Murdstone, turned out to be the most disgusting person. He controlled absolutely everything, not excluding the relationship between mother and son. Any manifestation of affection and tenderness towards the boy was considered unacceptable.

Soon, Mr. Murdstone's sister joined the family. David clearly remembers the day when a carriage stopped at the doorstep of their house, from which a prim lady with the same black hair as her brother came out. She had thick dark eyebrows that looked like men's sideburns. Miss Murdstone brought two black chests, a brass purse and her icy voice. It was truly a "metal lady" who, from the very first day, began to run the house as a hostess.

Little David's life was turning into a living hell. The main torture in the underworld at home was the lessons taught by Mr. Murdstone himself. For any offense, the teacher severely punished the pupil. David was literally dull with fear, every moment expecting another slap on the head. Once, during a pedagogical flogging, David bit his "tormentor". For such inappropriate behavior, the boy was sent to Salem House private school.

Fortunately, the link turned out to be quite nice. Young Copperfield made friends that he still did not have, and unexpectedly showed himself as a capable student. And most importantly, the school did not have the hated Murdstones and their iron views.

David Copperfield's short-lived happiness ended on the day his mother died. Mr. Murdstone no longer saw the point of paying for the boy's education, informing him that he was old enough and could earn a living on his own. At that time, David Copperfield turned ten whole years.

The stepfather assigns his stepson to the Murdstone & Greenby trading house, of which he is a co-owner. Peggotty's beloved maid is being counted. She leaves for her native Yarmouth, persuading Murdstone to let David go to stay with her.

Working in a London trading house left in the memory of David the most eerie memories. Always hungry and cold, he fell off his feet after grueling work shifts. The only consolation is the Micawber family, from whom he rents an apartment. These good-natured losers surround him with the warmth and care that a boy thrown into adulthood needs so much.

When Micawber ends up in a debt prison, David decides to flee London. The only hope for salvation turns out to be his grandmother - Miss Betsy Trotwood, who at one time was so disappointed by the fact that David was not born a girl.

Hungry, filthy, exhausted, the boy barely makes it to Miss Trotwood's house. He is ready for any twists and turns of fate, but the grandmother, surprisingly, meets her grandson very warmly. He is immediately fed, bathed, and put into a clean, warm bed. For the first time in months, David Copperfield slept soundly.

Ten-year-old Charles Dickens, like his hero, was forced to leave school and go to work in a wax factory. This happened because his father (a kind but extremely impractical person) went to a debt prison. Dickens tried to forget months of work at the factory like a bad dream. Since his dismissal, he has never returned to the factory and has always avoided the ill-fated street.

Finally, the life of David Copperfield began to resemble that of children of his age. He goes to school, eats home meals from his loving grandmother, who has become his full-fledged guardian, he even has a best friend - this is Agness Wickfield, the daughter of a local lawyer.

Agnes's father was once a successful lawyer. After the death of his wife, he gave up badly, began to abuse alcohol, after which his affairs rapidly began to decline. Now he barely supports his office, which is run by the vile rogue Uriah Hip. This adventurer did a lot of dastardly machinations that nearly ruined many of David's loved ones, including his grandmother. Over time, Heep was brought out into the open, and his victims were returned to their fortunes.

Meanwhile, young David Copperfield has grown into a grown man. On the advice of his grandmother, he entered the Faculty of Law, but did not achieve much success in this field. But while practicing at Mr. Spenlow's office, he met Dora, the owner's daughter. David immediately fell in love with pretty Dora and, despite the obstacles that arose in the way of young people, won the hand of his chosen one.

Unfortunately, the first years of their life together proved that there is nothing worthwhile behind Dora's beautiful appearance. She never became a companion, like-minded person, friend, kindred spirit for David.

It didn't work out with jurisprudence either. David begins to realize that this is not the kind of activity he would like to devote his life to.

Unsuccessful marriage

The marriage of Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine was unsuccessful, despite the fact that at first the future wife also captivated the young Dickens with her beauty. Already in the first years of marriage, Charles clearly sympathized with her sister Mary, whose unexpected death was a severe blow for him.

A happy ending

Life, however, put everything in its place. Stupid Dora died suddenly, freeing David from his burdensome marriage. He met his fate in the person of his childhood friend Agnes.

Having decisively broke with jurisprudence, Copperfield begins to engage in reporting activities and makes progress in this field. He soon tries himself as a writer. His works are beginning to be in demand.

And most importantly, grandmother Trotwood is in seventh heaven with happiness, because she has a great-granddaughter! The girl was named Betsy Trotwood Copperfield.

Having tried many professions, Dickens got a job as a reporter for a London newspaper and immediately began to make progress. Over time, he began to publish small stories on the pages of periodicals, which attracted the attention of large metropolitan publishing houses. Dickens gave up his reporting career and became a successful writer, the author of the best-selling novels in England.

Charles Dickens

David Copperfield

Chapter I

I APPEAR INTO THE LIGHT

At the very beginning of my life story, I must mention that I was born on Friday, at midnight. It was noticed that my first cry came when the clock began to strike. Taking into account the day and hour of my birth, the nurse and several wise neighbors, who were keenly interested in my special person many months before a possible personal acquaintance with me, announced that I was destined to be unhappy in life. They were convinced that such was the inevitable fate of all unfortunate babies of both sexes born on Friday at midnight.

There is no need for me to say anything about this here, for the history of my life itself will show best of all whether this prediction was justified or it was false.

I was born in Blonderston, Suffolk, after the death of my father, whose eyes closed to earthly light six months before mine was opened. And now, even when I think about it, it seems strange to me that my father never saw me. And even stranger are my vague memories of early childhood associated with my father's white tombstone in our village cemetery: I always felt some inexpressible pity for this stone lying alone in the darkness of the night, while it was so light in our little living room and the warmth from candles and a burning fireplace. At times it even seemed cruel to me that the doors of our house were firmly locked, as if from this very stone.

The most important person in our family was my father's aunt, therefore, my great-aunt, about whom I will soon have to talk a lot here. My aunt, Miss Trotwood, or Miss Betsy (as my mother called her in those rare moments when she managed, overcoming her fear, to mention this formidable person), married a man younger than herself, a handsome man who, however, did not justify the sayings: "Handsome is the one who acts beautifully." He was strongly suspected of sometimes hitting Miss Betsy, and one day, in the heat of a dispute over financial matters, he suddenly went so far as to almost throw her out of a second-floor window. Such eloquent proof of the dissimilarity of characters prompted Miss Betsy to buy off her hubby and get a divorce by mutual agreement. With the capital thus obtained, the former husband of Miss Betsy went to India, and there, according to the ridiculous family legend, he was once seen riding an elephant in the company of a baboon. Be that as it may, ten years later, rumors of his death came from India.

What impression these rumors made on the aunt remained a mystery to everyone, for immediately after the divorce she took her maiden name again, bought herself a house somewhere far away, in a village on the seashore, settled there alone with a servant and since then led a real life hermit.

It seems to me that my father was once a favorite of my aunt, but he mortally offended her by marrying the "wax doll," as Miss Betsy called my mother. She had never seen my mother, but she knew that she was not even twenty years old. When my father got married, he never met his aunt again. He was twice his mother's age and his health was far from good. My father died a year after the wedding and, as I mentioned, six months before my birth.

This was the state of affairs on Friday afternoon, important to me, fraught with consequences. Mother was sitting by the fireplace; she was not well and was in a very depressed mood. Looking through her tears at the fire, she thought in deep depression of herself and of the tiny unknown orphan, whom the world, apparently, was not going to meet very hospitably.

So, on a clear, windy March day, mother was sitting by the fireplace, fearfully and longingly thinking about whether she would be able to get out alive from the upcoming test, when suddenly, wiping away her tears, she saw an unfamiliar lady walking through the garden through the window.

Mother looked at the lady again, and a certain foreboding told her that it was Miss Betsy. The setting sun from behind the garden fence illuminated the stranger with its rays, heading for the door of the house, and she walked with such a self-confident look, with such a stern determination in her eyes, which could not be seen by anyone but Miss Betsy. Approaching the house, my aunt presented another proof that it was she: my father often used to say that his aunt rarely behaved like ordinary mortals. And this time, instead of calling, she went to the window and began to look into it, pressing her nose so hard against the glass that, according to my poor mother, she instantly flattened and turned completely white.

Her appearance frightened my mother extremely, and I have always been convinced that it was Miss Betsy that I owed my birth on Friday. The agitated mother jumped up from her chair and huddled behind him in the corner. Miss Betsy, slowly and questioningly rolling her eyes like a Turk on a Dutch clock, circled the room with them; finally her gaze rested on her mother, and she, frowning, ordered her to open the door with an imperious gesture. She obeyed.

Are you Mrs. Copperfield? Miss Betsy asked.

Yes, mother babbled.

Miss Trotwood, - introduced the guest. - I hope you've heard of her?

Mother answered that she had this pleasure. But she had the unpleasant realization that this "great" pleasure was by no means reflected on her face.

Now you see her in front of you, ”Miss Betsy said.

Mother bowed and asked her to come in. They went into the small drawing-room, from which mother had just come out, for the fireplace had not been lit in the front drawing-room, or rather, it had not been lit since the very funeral of my father.

When they both sat down, and Miss Betsy still did not begin to speak, mother, after a vain effort to pull herself together, burst into tears.

Well, well, well, said Miss Betsy hastily. - Leave it! Completeness! Completeness!

However, mother could not control herself, and tears continued to flow until she cried out.

Take off your cap, my child, - Miss Betsy suddenly said, - let me look at you.

Mother was too frightened not to submit to this strange demand, and at once took off her cap, while she was so nervous that her thick, wonderful hair was completely loosened.

Oh my God! exclaimed Miss Betsy. - You're just a child!

Undoubtedly, my mother, even for her age, was unusually youthful. The poor woman lowered her head, as if it was her fault, and, sobbing, confessed that perhaps she was too young for both a widow and a mother, if only, having become a mother, she survived.

There was another silence, during which it seemed to my mother that Miss Betsy had touched her hair, and it was as if it were gentle. Mother looked with timid hope at her husband's aunt, but she, slightly lifting her dress, put her feet on the grate of the fireplace, wrapped her arms around her knee and, frowning, stared at the blazing fire ...

They expressed their sincere admiration. This novel is called the main work of Charles Dickens and one of the finest works of English literature. The novel was screened 13 times, and the next screen version of the book is scheduled for 2019. "David Copperfield" is partly an autobiographical work, whose contribution to modern literature can hardly be overestimated. The original title of the book is "The Life of David Copperfield, Telling Himself."

Books "David Copperfield" summary

In the novel by Charles Dickens "David Copperfield" you can read about a boy who was born six months after his father's death. Therefore, he spent his childhood under the care of his mother and nanny Peggotty. But soon David's mother got married a second time. During their honeymoon, David and his nanny went to Peggotty's brother. This hospitable house-longboat with its inhabitants will become a family for David for a long time in the future. But after the end of his parents' honeymoon, he met a new father - Mr. Mardston - a tyrannical and arrogant man. He literally immediately turned David's life in his own house into hell, and when Mardston's sister also came to their house, it was hard times for David. The only salvation was my father's library. But soon she remained in the past, when his stepfather, in the midst of the holidays, sent the main character to school by Salem House. The boy's mother only through Peggotty was able to express her feelings for her son and give him two half crowns.

The school is run by Mr. Crickle, whom even his household is afraid of. His manner of upbringing was flogging his students. But the main character of the book "David Copperfield" was lucky to become a friend of James Steerford, to whom he, like Scheherazade, retold books from his father's library. Mr Crickle flirted openly before Steerford. But at school, David did not stay long. During the Christmas break, he goes home, where his mother and newborn brother die. The stepfather says that education costs money, but David does not need it and sends him to London to work in his factory. The only thing that Nanny Peggotty managed to do before her dismissal was to beg Mardston to let David go with her to her brother for a few days. It was the last breath of love for the boy.

In London, ten-year-old David settles in the house of Mr. Micawber - a frivolous loser, who, however, was gentle enough with the boy. David works as a bottle washer and gradually begins to forget school wisdom. Therefore, when Mr. Micawber falls into debt, he goes on foot to his aunt, Miss Trotwood. His aunt takes him coldly enough, but after talking with the Mardstones, she decides to become David's guardian.

Aunt, though a bit eccentric, but loves to David. She sends him to study at Dr. Strong's school, which is radically different from the Crickle school. Here the main character spends wonderful school years. A lot of this contributes to the family of Mr. Wickfield in whose house the boy lives. Wickfield is Miss Trotwood's lawyer who, after the death of his wife, often looked into the bottle. Therefore, all affairs in the office were in fact managed by the disgusting type Uriah Hip.

But school life soon ends and at the insistence of Miss Trotwood, David goes to London. Here he meets a school friend Steerford, who invites him to stay with his parents. In response, David invites a friend to the longboat house. They arrive just on the day of the engagement of Mr. Peggotty's niece - Emly, whom all the women in the area hate for her beauty. Just before the wedding, Stirford persuades the girl to drop everything and run with him. But in the end, for Emly, it ends in tragedy. Soon she will get bored with Steerford, and he will offer her to marry his servant. The frustrated girl runs away from him and becomes a fallen woman.

In London, Miss Trotwood arranges for David to study law. Very soon the young man falls in love with the daughter of the owner of the company in which he is studying - Dora Spenlow. In London, he meets another of his school friends - Tommy Traddles. He also chose a legal future for himself, but he lives poorer. As it turns out, he lives in the house of Mr. Micawber, who, as always, is in debt. David is glad to meet you, but Mr. Micawber leaves soon. Wickfield and Heap became his new place of work. It turns out that Uriah Hip, using Wickfield's drunkenness, managed to become his companion, and then bankrupted him and all his clients. Miss Trotwood was one of these clients. Because of this, she is forced to rent the house, and she herself move to London. As a result, it seems to David that they began to live even richer than before.

In the meantime, things are going well for David. First, he gets a job as a secretary to the retired director of his school, Dr. Strong. And then, having learned shorthand, he becomes a parliamentary reporter. When the boy turns eighteen, he marries Dora. But this marriage was not long. The girl died two years later. By this time, David had already become a famous writer. Therefore, in order to forget about the grief, he goes to the continent for three years. There he is actively working on his new books. Upon his return, he marries Mr. Wickfield's daughter, Agnes, who has loved him since David's life in their house. Mr. Peggotty finds Emly and goes with her to Australia, where no one knows the girl. Micawber helps expose the machinations of Uriah Heep and put him in a prison run by Mr. Crickle. Thanks to this, Miss Trotwood gets all her money, and Mr. Wickfield gets his good name back. Peggotty is now babysitting David's children, and Miss Trotwurd, who finally became a godmother, helps her in this.

Book "David Copperfield" on the Top Books website

Charles Dickens' book "David Copperfield" is so popular to read that it took a high place among. At the same time, interest in her is quite stable, which allows us to hope for high places in the novel in our subsequent ones.

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english Charles Dickens. David Copperfield or The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account) 1849

David Copperfield was born half an orphan - six months after the death of his father. It so happened that when he was born, his father's aunt, Miss Betsy Trotwood, was present - her marriage was so unfortunate that she became a man-hater, returned to her maiden name and settled in the wilderness. Before the marriage of her nephew, she loved him very much, but reconciled with his choice and came to meet his wife only six months after his death. Miss Betsy expressed her desire to become the godmother of a newborn girl (she wanted a girl to be born without fail), asked to name her Betsy Trotwood Copperfield and set out to “educate her properly,” protecting her from all possible mistakes. Upon learning that a boy was born, she was so disappointed that, without saying goodbye, she left her nephew's house forever.

As a child, David is surrounded by the care and love of his mother and nanny Peggotty. But his mother is getting married a second time.

During their honeymoon, David and his nanny are sent to Yarmouth to stay with his brother Peggotty. So for the first time he finds himself in a hospitable house-longboat and meets its inhabitants: Mr. Peggotty, his nephew Ham, his niece Emly (David falls in love with her like a child) and the widow of his companion Mrs. Gummidge.

Returning home, David finds there a "new dad" - Mr. Mardston and a completely changed mother: now she is afraid to caress him and obeys her husband in everything. When Mr. Mardston's sister also settles with them, the boy's life becomes completely unbearable. The Mardstons take great pride in their toughness, meaning by it "the tyrannical, somber, arrogant, diabolical disposition inherent in both of them." The boy is taught at home; under the ferocious glances of his stepfather and his sister, he grows dull with fear and cannot answer the lesson. The only joy in his life is his father's books, which, fortunately, ended up in his room. For poor studies he is deprived of lunch, given a slap on the head; finally, Mr. Mardston decides to resort to flogging. As soon as the first blow fell on David, he bit his stepfather's hand. For this he is sent to school by Salem House - right in the middle of the holidays. Mother coldly said goodbye to him under Miss Mardston's watchful gaze, and only when the carriage drove away from the house, the faithful Peggotty stealthily jumped into it and, showered "her Davy" with kisses, supplied a basket with goodies and a wallet in which, besides other money, lay two half-crowns from the mother, wrapped in a piece of paper with the inscription: “For Davy. With love". At school, his back was immediately decorated with a poster: “Beware! Bites! " The vacations end, the inhabitants return to the school, and David meets new friends - the recognized leader among students James Steerford, six years older than him, and Tommy Traddles - "the funniest and most unhappy", the School is run by Mr. Crickle, whose teaching method is intimidation and spanking; not only his students, but also his family are mortally afraid of him. Steerford, to whom Mr. Crickle curses, takes Copperfield under his patronage - for the fact that he, like Scheherazade, at night retells to him the contents of books from his father's library.

Christmas holidays come, and David goes home, not yet knowing that this meeting with his mother is destined to be the last: soon she dies, and David's newborn brother also dies. After the death of his mother, David does not return to school: Mr. Mardston explains to him that education costs money and for people like David Copperfield, it will not be useful, because it is time for them to earn a living. The boy acutely feels his abandonment: the Mardstons have calculated Peggotty, and the good nanny is the only person in the world who loves him. Peggotty returns to Yarmouth and marries Carter Barkis; but before parting, she begged the Mardstones to let David stay in Yarmouth, and he again finds himself in the house-boat on the seashore, where everyone sympathizes with him and everyone is kind to him - the last breath of love before difficult trials.

Mardston sends David to London to work at the Mardston & Greenby trading house. So at ten years old, David enters into an independent life - that is, he becomes a slave to the company. Together with other boys, always hungry, he washes bottles all day, feeling that he gradually forgets his school wisdom and is horrified at the thought that someone from his former life might see him. His suffering is intense and deep, but he does not complain.

David is very attached to the family of the owner of his apartment, Mr. Micawber, a frivolous loser, constantly besieged by creditors and living in the eternal hope that someday "happiness will smile at us." Mrs Micawber, who is easily hysterical and just as easily comforted, now and then asks David to take down a silver spoon, now a sugar tweezer. But they also have to part with the Micawbers: they end up in a debt prison, and after their release they go to Plymouth to seek their fortune. David, who does not have a single loved one in this city, firmly decides to run to his grandmother Trotwood. In a letter, he asks Peggotty where his grandmother lives, and asks to send him half a guinea in debt. Having received the money and a very vague answer that Miss Trotwood lives "somewhere near Dover," David packs up his things in a chest and goes to the postage station; on the way he is robbed, and, already without a chest and without money, he sets off on foot. He spends the night in the open and sells a jacket and vest to buy bread, he is exposed to many dangers - and on the sixth day, hungry and dirty, with broken legs, he comes to Dover. Having happily found his grandmother's house, weeping, he tells his story and asks for protection. Grandma writes to the Mardstones and promises to give a final answer after talking with them, while David is being washed, fed and put into a real clean bed.

After talking with the Mardstones and realizing the full measure of their gloom, rudeness and greed (taking advantage of the fact that David's mother, whom they had taken to the grave, did not stipulate David's share in the will, they took possession of all her property without giving him a penny), the grandmother decides to become the official guardian of David.

Finally David is back to normal. Although his grandmother is eccentric, she is very, very kind, and not only to her grand-nephew. She has a quiet crazy Mr. Dick in her house, whom she saved from Bedlam. David begins attending Dr. Strong's School in Canterbury; Since there are no more places in the boarding house at the school, the grandmother gratefully accepts the offer of her lawyer, Mr. Wickfield, to settle the boy with him. After the death of his wife, Mr. Wickfield, drowning in grief, became immoderately addicted to port wine; the only light of his life is his daughter Agnes, the same age as David. For David, she also became a kind angel. Mr. Wickfield's law office is served by Uriah Heep - a disgusting type, red-haired, writhing all over, with unclosed red eyes, without eyelashes, with always cold and damp hands, to his every phrase, obsequiously adding: "we are small, humble people."

Dr. Strong's school turns out to be the complete opposite of Mr. Crickle's. David is a successful student, and happy school years, warmed by the love of his grandmother, Mr. Dick, the kind angel Agnes, fly by instantly.

After leaving school, the grandmother invites David to go to London, visit Peggotty and, after resting, choose a business to his liking; David goes to travel. In London, he meets Steerford, with whom he studied at Salem House. Steerford invites him to stay with his mother, and David accepts the invitation. In turn, David invites Steerford to come with him to Yarmouth.

They come to the house-boat at the moment of the engagement of Emly and Ham, Emly has grown and blossomed, the women of the whole area hate her for her beauty and ability to dress with taste; she works as a seamstress. David lives in his nanny's house, Steerford in an inn; David wanders all day around the cemetery around his native graves, Steerford goes to sea, arranges feasts for sailors and enchants the entire population of the coast, "prompted by an unconscious desire to rule, by an unconscious need to conquer, to conquer even that which has no value for him." How David will repent that he brought him here!

Stirford seduces Emly, and on the eve of the wedding she runs away with him "to return the lady or not to return at all." Ham's heart is broken, he longs to forget himself at work, Mr. Peggotty goes to look for Emly in the world, and only Mrs. Gummidge remains in the longboat house - so that the light is always on in the window, in case Emly returns. For many years there is no news of her, finally David learns that in Italy Emly fled from Steerford when he, bored with her, invited her to marry his servant.

Grandmother invites David to choose a career as a lawyer - proctor at Doctor Commons. David agrees, grandmother contributes a thousand pounds for his education, arranges his life and returns to Dover.

David begins his independent life in London. He is delighted to meet again Tommy Traddles, his friend from Salem House, who also works in the legal field, but, being poor, earns his living and training on his own. Traddles is engaged and eagerly tells David about his Sophie. David is also in love - with Dora, the daughter of Mr. Spenlow, the owner of the firm where he studies. Friends have a lot to talk about. Despite the fact that life does not spoil him, Traddles is surprisingly good-natured. It turns out that the owners of his apartment are the Micawber's wife; they are, as usual, enmeshed in debt. David is happy to renew our acquaintance; The Traddles and the Micawber make up his circle of friends, until the Micawber leave for Canterbury - under the pressure of circumstances and inspired by the hope that "happiness has smiled on them": Mr. Micawber got a job at the Wickfield and Heap office.

Uriah Heep, skillfully playing on Mr. Wickfield's weaknesses, became his companion and gradually takes control of the office. He deliberately confuses accounts and shamelessly robs the firm and its clients, soldering Mr. Wickfield and convincing him that the cause of the dire state of affairs is his drunkenness. He settles in Mr. Wickfield's house and solicits Agnes. And Micawber, completely dependent on him, is hired to help him in his dirty business.

One of the victims of Uriah Heep is David's grandmother. She is broke; with Mr. Dick and all her belongings, she comes to London, renting out her house in Dover to feed herself. David is not in the least discouraged by this news; he goes to work as a secretary to Dr. Strong, who retired and settled in London (the good angel Agnes recommended this place to him); besides, studies shorthand. Grandmother runs their household in such a way that it seems to David that he has become not poorer, but richer; Mr. Dick makes a living by writing papers. Having mastered the same shorthand, David begins to earn very good money as a parliamentary reporter.

Upon learning of the change in David's financial situation, Mr. Spenlow, Dora's father, denies him a house. Dora is also afraid of poverty. David is inconsolable; but when Mr. Spenlow passed away suddenly, it turned out that his affairs were in complete disarray, - Dora, who now lives with her aunts, is in no way richer than David. David is allowed to visit her; Dora's aunts got along well with David's grandmother. David is slightly embarrassed that everyone treats Dora like a toy; but she herself has nothing against it. Having reached the age of majority, David gets married. This marriage was short-lived: two years later, Dora dies, not having time to grow up.

Mr. Peggotty finds Emly; after long ordeals, she reached London, where Martha Endell, the fallen girl from Yarmouth whom Emly once helped, in turn saves her and brings her to her uncle's apartment. (It was David's idea to involve Martha in the search.) Mr. Peggotty now intends to emigrate to Australia, where no one will be interested in Emly's past.

Meanwhile, Mr. Micawber, unable to participate in the frauds of Uriah Heep, with the help of Traddles exposes him. Mr. Wickfield's good name saved, and fortunes returned to Grandma and other clients. Full of thanks, Miss Trotwood and David pay Micawber's promissory notes and lend money to this glorious family: The Micawers have decided to go to Australia too. Mr. Wickfield liquidates the firm and retires; Agnes opens a girls' school.

On the eve of the departure of the steamer to Australia, a terrible storm struck the Yarmouth coast - it claimed the lives of Ham and Steerford.

After Dora's death, David, who became a famous writer (he moved from journalism to fiction), went to the continent to work, overcome his grief. Returning three years later, he marries Agnes, who, as it turned out, loved him all her life. Grandmother finally became the godmother of Betsy Trotwood Copperfield (that's the name of one of her great-granddaughters); Peggotty nurses David's children; Traddles is also married and happy. Expatriates settled down wonderfully in Australia. Uriah Heep is being held in a prison run by Mr. Crickle.

Thus, life has put everything in its place.