David Copperfield
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Serial, 1849Original title
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger, of Blunderstone Rookery
Also known as
The Personal History of David Copperfield
First publication
1849–1850 in instalments
First book publication
1850 in two volumes
Literature form
Novel
Genres
Literary, buildungsroman, autobiographical novel
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Approx. 357,000 words
Notable lines
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
— First line
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."
She was one of those people who can bear a great deal of pleasure, and she never flinched in her perseverance in the cause.
"It was as true," said Mr. Barkis, "as turnips is. It was as true," said Mr. Barkis, nodding his nightcap, which was his only means of emphasis, "as taxes is. And nothing's truer than them."
"Accidents will occur in the best regulated families."
Mrs. Crupp had indignantly assured him that there wasn't room to swing a cat there; but, as Mr. Dick justly observed to me, sitting down on the foot of the bed, nursing his leg, 'You know, Trotwood, I don't want to swing a cat. I never do swing a cat. Therefore, what does that signify to ME!"
Oh Agnes, oh my soul, so may thy face be by me when I close my life indeed; so may I, when the shadows which I now dismiss, still find thee near me, pointing upward!
— Last line
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