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David Copperfield (tie-in) | 
 enlarge | Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $8.00
Buy Used: $0.42
You Save: $7.58 (95%)
New (4) Used (12) from $0.42
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 1993169
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 912
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.3 x 1.6
ISBN: 0140297383
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780140297386
ASIN: 0140297383
Publication Date: November 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
This TNT Original miniseries, in partnership with Hallmark Entertainment is based on Charles Dickens's extraordinary story of a young man struggling to find a place in the world of 19th century London. Through his hero Dickens draws openly on his own life, as he recalls his experiences from childhood. The unforgettable characters of Rosa Dartle, Dora, Steerforth, Uriah Heep, and Mr. Micawber, a portrait of Dickens's own father, evoke the mixture of love, nostalgia, and guilt that makes this one of Dickens's most quoted and best-loved novels.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
 David Copperfield Isn't Just a Magician? June 25, 2008
No, you fool, he's not. David Copperfield is a masterpiece of a novel and truly my favorite classic work.
I have a very old edition of this book and not this one, but do not read the abridged version. What perfection in writing is being cut to give you a faster read?
I have been hooked on Dickens since I was 18 and read Great Expectations. I thought, "Oh, it can't get better than this," but it did. I won't go into a long, boring retelling of this book, which only detracts from the genius of it, but I will tell you, Charles wrote these characters so well, I felt as if we were dear friends.
At the end of the book, I tried to make a page last as long as possible. Upon completion, I was in tears. My husband asked, "Sad ending, eh?" I said, "No, it's not that ... it's just that I feel like I've lost some good friends. I had dinner with them, sat in the study with them, and now it's over." This above all else is good writing to me ... when you feel so deeply connected with the characters and story that you are THERE. You are not in bed or your living room any longer, but transported to England and sharing some tea with good friends. You want the friend to triumph and you hold onto every word until the end.
Don't let the length or the idea of a classic novel dissuade you. They are classic because they are simply the best in what writing has to offer then AND now.
 Ummm..... July 30, 2007
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
While I admire anyone who can write 800+ pages with an overarching theme (the discipline of the heart), and while I also consider Dickens to be one of my favorite writers of all time, I was very disappointed in this book. It ultimately comes down to three main story lines: (1) the events regarding Uriah Heep, (2) events regarding Emily, and (3) events regarding David finding love. Maybe in 1850 it was a big deal, but reading 800+ pages to find out that Emily ran off with an egoist isn't exactly stimulating, nor is plowing through only to find out Uriah Heep is a scoundrel. Sure, the last couple of pages are nice with David and Agnes, but I'm not sure it makes the book worth reading.
I'm really not sure how Dickens could consider this character his favorite. Copperfield is the consumate pushover and patsy. Instead of doing something, anything, to defend the abuse/neglect of his mother and himself when coming across the Murdstone's in later years, he does absolutely nothing. His main event with Uriah is a slap in the face. It's almost like David Copperfield was Boy George placed in the 1900's.
But, if you have several hours to spend on the pursuit of being so bored you want to contemplate suicide, I would highly recommend this book.
A Masterpiece July 15, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is Dickens's best and it is on par with other great novels such as Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Madame Bovary, etc. In short, it is a masterpiece that brings together all of Dickens's writing skills with a great story.
As background information, I am in the process of reading most of Dickens 22 novels and longer short stories. I bought the Penguin Popular Classics version of the novel. It is very basic and comes in a simple green cover. It contains no introduction or analysis, just the text plus a very brief historical sketch of Dickens. It seems to be an excellent value for the money and I bought three Dickens novels in the series. I was a bit disappointed in that the book seemed to fall apart as I read it: the binding seemed very weak and cheaply made. After this bad experience, I bought other versions of Dickens's works - Wordsworth Classic versions, the regular Penguin Classic versions, the ones with the photo on the covers, and others.
Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812 to 1870, is the best know male English writer of the 19th century. He authored 22 novels plus numerous short pieces. Most of his writing was first written in serialized form, later published as single novels.
A young Dickens at the age of 12 had the unenviable job of attaching labels 10 hours a day at the Warren's boot blacking factory. That experience shaped much of his writing career. Still in his teens he became a law clerk, then later in his twenties a journalist. The last job as a reporter led to the serialized writing of his novels. His works were social commentaries with larger than life characters, or colorful caricatures, living in the slums of London. He was a critic of poverty, social injustice, and the slow moving court system.
All of Dickens's experiences come together in David Copperfield. The story has many biographical elements in it: a young man forced to take a job in a factory, attendance at a difficult school, working in a law firm, being a reporter, etc. The book was the author's favorite because of all of these biographical elements. The novel is twice as long as Great Expectations and has a wonderful set of characters, a good story, and it is a compelling read. It is clear from reading the novel that Dickens has put a lot of enthusiasm and creativity into writing the novel and into the creation of many memorable characters such as Edward and Jane Murdstone, Wilkins Micawber, Uriah Heep, Tommy Traddles, Mrs Trotwood, etc. Readers will not be disappointed.
Having read many of Dickens's novels I still rate David Copperfield as best as a work of literature and for entertainment value.
great classic novel May 29, 2007
This is a great classic novel full of wonderful insights of human nature and humorous notions from David's viewpoint. It shows how people do better when treated better, something very worthwhile for people to read nowadays when overly strict discipline has been transferred to overly diagnosed mental illnesses and medication for this. This shows a believable resilient child, though in unusual circumstances for modern times, children are normally resilient to hardships, as well as adults. The difference between the way David is treated by the Murdstones and cruel teachers as opposed to how he is treated well by his Aunt Betsy and good teachers show how much a difference kind treatment to people makes.
A Brilliant Masterpiece March 29, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was a slight drag at first in the first part, but the ending is remarkable and sheds a new light on charles Dickens' work. It is sure a masterpiece. Its portrayal of love, death, hope, misery, and so much more is quite striking. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever come across.
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