David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield
Score Classic
What it's about
David Copperfield looks back on his life: his happy early childhood, his cruel stepfather, being sent to work in a London factory at ten, running away to his eccentric aunt Betsey, school, his friendships with the charming Steerforth and the debt-ridden Mr. Micawber, the scheming Uriah Heep, two loves and becoming a writer.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and was Dickens's own favorite, drawn from his own life. It's full of some of the most memorable characters in literature.
You'll love it if you liked
Great Expectations
A Christmas Carol
Of Human BondageGood to know
It's very long and was originally published in monthly parts. Abridged and illustrated editions are common.
By the numbers
- Readers54 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller44 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #119 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #318 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1030 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol
Bleak HouseGreat Expectations
A Tale of Two CitiesIf you like this, read next
The Age of Innocence
Emma
Love in the Time of Cholera
The Color Purple
Lonesome Dove
Pride and PrejudiceExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is David Copperfield worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and was Dickens's own favorite, drawn from his own life. It ranks #1,030 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is David Copperfield about?
David Copperfield looks back on his life: his happy early childhood, his cruel stepfather, being sent to work in a London factory at ten, running away to his eccentric aunt Betsey, school, his friendships with the charming Steerforth and the debt-ridden Mr. Micawber, the scheming Uriah Heep, two loves and becoming a writer.
How long does it take to read David Copperfield?
About 24 hours (974 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after David Copperfield?
If you liked it, try Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham.