David Copperfield Dickensalong

[Piggywaspushed]

Hello All

Inspired by the Bleak House readalong, I have decided this might be the year to tackle David Copperfield.

Those of us who did BH read it obediently in Dickens' instalments ,which wasn't to everyone's taste! We had a chat at the end of each month. It took 18 months and I think we had three stalwarts left at the end.

DC was published as follows (note different months!):

• I – May 1849 (chapters 1–3);
• II – June 1849 (chapters 4–6);
• III – July 1849 (chapters 7–9);
• IV – August 1849 (chapters 10–12);
• V – September 1849 (chapters 13–15);
• VI – October 1849 (chapters 16–18);
• VII – November 1849 (chapters 19–21);
• VIII – December 1849 (chapters 22–24);
• IX – January 1850 (chapters 25–27);
• X – February 1850 (chapters 28–31);
• XI – March 1850 (chapters 32–34);
• XII – April 1850 (chapters 35–37);
• XIII – May 1850 (chapters 38–40);
• XIV – June 1850 (chapters 41–43);
• XV – July 1850 (chapters 44–46);
• XVI – August 1850 (chapters 47–50);
• XVII – September 1850 (chapters 51–53);
• XVIII – October 1850 (chapters 54–57);
• XIX-XX – November 1850 (chapters 58–64).

I am happy to negotiate reading faster so that we tackle three instalments at a time? Thus , the first would be Chapter 1 -9 and we would be finished in the summer.

What does everyone think?

WE know Steerforth is a Bad Egg. What I want to know is HOW does Agnes know that??? And why oh why should she have to put up with advances from the slimy Heep? Come on, David. Stake your claim!

I'm glad to see Traddles back again - an understated, calm chap in amongst the crazier characters!

Funny to see how these youngsters chose their careers in those times. No GCSEs and A Levels to fret over!

Agnes just knows . Because she's Agnes. She's wise.

She's such a contrast to David! Are they supposed to be the same age?

I am a chapter short as I thought it was to the beginning of 27! But I agree Agnes is wise! And Dora is a going to be a silly giggly girl I think. What do you think has happened to Miss Murdstone?

Miss Murdstone is a mystery to be resolved. There are a lot of women in this book, I noticed.

I have sort of ignored Dora. She'll probably become very significant, therefore!!

Agree re Dora.
Good question re Miss Murdstone....

Whoops, my comments were after Tanaqui's post. Sorry. Multi-tasking

I loved DC's hair being drunk .

The significant thing for me was noticing how the gears are shifting to true maturity. There's that sudden moment when, after rhapsodising about how wonderful, good, kind etc etc the (vile) Steerforth is, David lapses abruptly into showing us that bad things are on the horizon. It's when he takes Steerforth to visit the Peggottys and Little Em'ly, and says if he'd known then what would happen, and what Steerforth would do.....he doesn't actually say what it is, but it's as if dark clouds have gathered, he's suddenly grown up and finally left the innocent young David behind

I liked young David, though as he made me laugh. I hope it doesn't become too serious.

Thought I should point out, by the way, for April that we have 10 chapters rather than the usual 9. So we need to read ahead to the end of Chapter 37. Forward planning!!

I mentioned a while back that I'd started getting distracted by the history of the places David visited....he mentioned going to London and staying at the Golden Cross Inn at Charing Cross, where he looked out at the statue of Charles 1 when he woke up in the morning.

This led me to an engraving of the inn, and a wonderful photograph, taken in 1839, which is one of the earliest ever taken of London...

I've put the same thing up twice . Here's the photo.

All of this is where Trafalgar Square is now. It would have been laid out as we now know it in the decade or so leading up to Dickens writing David Copperfield - I'm sure he would have watched the works taking place.

Wow, that's a photograph?? Extraordinary!

Yes, a daguerrotype - looking up Whitehall. It's in the V&A and they have the copyright. Taken January 1839. Amazing, isn't it?

My great great great (?) was an early photographer in the USA maybe 20 years after this : his photos are amazing : the black and white has such a lovely quality.

Missed out grandfather in that!

Have just finished my chapters. I've increased my appreciation for the film, which does seem to have caught the spirit of the book very well. I"m enjoying all the headlong crushes, culminating in Does. And ah, the friend he can confide in about them, Dora.

Wow, Piggy - have you got many of them? That sounds fascinating!

Dickens had his photograph taken often but he wasn't keen on having it done.....although he knew how important it was for publicity purposes. A shrewd one, was our Dickens.

Dickens was quite the celebrity, wasn't he?

I have got quite a few , although most are with my DM : unfortunately quite a few are sun damaged. I have a book about his photos , too. He was from Mystic in Connecticut and is reasonably 'famous' there. It's a small place!

This is a photo I own. The girl is my great grandmother.

That hair

I think she had probably tied it with rags the night before!

I'm late posting today as just finished the chapters today. Still not seen the film, will wait until I have finished the book now.

I am enjoying the newly adult David. I reckon Agnes has either been seduced by Steerforth, or knows someone who has. Surely he has to get his comeuppance! Also intrigued about where Dickens is going with Miss Murdstone.
I am still finding some chapters confusing, and drag a bit, but ome chapters fly by and are quite "easy". There are just so many characters and I keep needing to check back on who is who.

Where are we reading to next?

I only just finished last night. The bit where he got drunk was hilarious! It was nice to see Little Em’ly settled although I was slightly disappointed she and David didn’t get together (I know they wouldn’t have been suited though). I’m also intrigued why Miss Murdstone has been brought back and I was pleased to see the Micawbers again.