Reading Dickens's David Copperfield

Charles Dickens is one of Britain's best and best-loved authors. Even his name has become an adjective: Dickensian, which calls to mind all the poverty and grim social conditions of Victorian times. Think of dark grimy streets, horrible factories and strict schools, homeless children and families living in poverty - but also kind figures and funny exaggerated characters who are impossible to forget.

In David Copperfield, Dickens uses real events from his life and changes them a little for his novel which was published in 1850. For example in the novel, the main character, David, is made as a boy to work long hours at bottle washing in a factory - he washes empty wine bottles and puts labels on them.

When Charles Dickens himself was about 11 years old, his father had terrible money trouble and was put in prison for debt for some months. Dickens family moved into the prison with him but young Charles Dickens was sent to work in a factory called Warrens blacking factory. Blacking is like shoe polish and was used to make shoes and boots and even stonework like doorsteps dark and shiny. Charles had to put labels on the pots that the blacking would be sold in. You can see a picture of a pot here.

https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/v/object-73849/pot-blacking-pot/

https://editions.covecollective.org/content/memory-trauma-and-poverty-child-labor-charles-dickenss-david-copperfield

Charles Dickens did not have to work there for too long in the end but it made a huge impression on him and he never forgot it. We also find a man called Mr Micawber in the novel who has dreadful debts and ends up in prison for a while. This reminds us of Charles Dickens's father. David Copperfield lives with Mr and Mrs Micawber for a while and becomes fond of these strange tragicomic people.

If you would like to read an abridged version of this story, specially adapted to help learners of English, I am using the Penguin graded reader. It is recommended to buy this book online or in a shop.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/321524/penguin-readers-level-5-david-copperfield-elt-graded-reader-by-dickens-charles/9780241493175

You can either read the book by yourself and ask me questions about it in the lesson. Or we will read the story aloud in the lesson and talk about it together. After the lesson I will send you feedback and links to further information and places in the book.

This lesson is for adult students, and would suit intermediate and above students who would like a gentle introduction to the classics.

I look forward to reading it with you.