David Copperfield

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 33 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

David Copperfield is the quintessential novel by England's most beloved novelist. Based in part on Dickens's own life, it is the story of a young man's journey from an unhappy and impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist. Among its gloriously vivid cast of characters, he encounters his tyrannical stepfather, Mr. Murdstone; his formidable aunt, Betsey Trotwood; the eternally humble yet treacherous Uriah Heep; the frivolous, enchanting Dora; and one of literature's great comic creations, the magnificently impecunious Mr. Micawber - a character resembling Dickens's own father.

In David Copperfield - the novel he described as his "favorite child" - Dickens drew revealingly on his own experiences to create one of his most exuberant and enduringly popular works, filled with tragedy and comedy in equal measure.

©1923 Public Domain (P)2009 Tantor

Great

Loved it. Meandering at times, but great. If you like Dickens' other works, you will like this. Simon Vance is great as always. Vance is one of my favourite readers.

Another excellent Dickens

Would you listen to David Copperfield again? Why?

No, I would likely not listen again, just because there are so many other good books out there and many more books by Charles Dickens in fact that I have yet to read and want to get to...

What other book might you compare David Copperfield to and why?

It is difficult to not compare this book with other books by Dickens (in particular, Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities (which is better in my opinion)).

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Why David Cooperfield of course, although all of them are charming.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I found the parts of the book about his earlier life were the most poignant - having his own mother turned against him and the cruelty of Mr. Murdstone were chilling.

You can feel the moments of joy

I just had my first baby and this story has been a perfect compliment to our first few months together.

What an enjoyable listening !

If you could sum up David Copperfield in three words, what would they be?

honesty, faith and humor

What other book might you compare David Copperfield to and why?

Anne of Green Gables series

Which scene was your favorite?

the journey the little Copperfield took to his aunt in order to find a better life and meeting all sorts of strange people

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many moments which moved me, but if I chose that was the serene scenery that I saw through the eyes of the boy David Copperfield.

Any additional comments?

I thought the reading by Mr Simon Vance was so good. One of the very bests. He should be acknowledged and praised.

The story tells simply that good people flourish and bad people get punished. It is nice to see how that happens even in a fiction.

Dickens and Vance: The Perfect Pair.

Couple Dickens at the height of his powers with a practiced and nimble narrator like Vance and the result is magic, a before-you-can-blink transport to the harsh social and economic juggernaut that was Victorian England. Vance's vocal maturity and manifest creativity yield captivating characters and bring the page to life. A masterful rendering.

Tradition to re-experience every year

pure, grounded, loving. Listen again each year at Thanksgiving. Then move on to Christmas Carol

Masterful Performance

A classic story masterfully performed. The narrator is a joy to listen to. He brings the individual characters to life.

An Old Classic Comes Alive

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would and have recommended this audiobook to a friend. Simon Vance's narration really made the characters come alive. It's amazing how he rendered such distinct voices and personalities in a book with so many characters. I never was confused about which character was speaking. And the tone of the voices seemed just right regardless of gender.

What was one of the most memorable moments of David Copperfield?

I loved when Miss Betsy Trotwood confronted Mister Murdstone and his sister and refused to let them take David from her home. It was great to see that evil pair get their comeuppance from Miss Betsy with the help of Mister Dick.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love when David meets Pegetty's family in their home on the beach crafted from an old boat. All the characters are so vivid and wonderful and are a breath of fresh air amidst the dark suffering in David's life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh aloud a few times AND cry.

Any additional comments?

The financial schemes which beleaguer so many Victorians in this book can seem a bit familiar when compared to the hard times we're experiencing these days. I found I understood more about where the characters were coming from than I did when I read this decades ago. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read classic literature with vivid characters set in Victorian times. And this version is, in my opinion, wonderfully done.

There is a reason this is a classic!

Where does David Copperfield rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is definitely on of my favorites.

What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great narrator. Wonderful change in tones and voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end. I love when a story completes itself. There were no strings left untied and the story ending perfectly happen as all stories should end. I am a hopeless romantic and this book plays right along with all of my romantic tendencies.

Any additional comments?

Loved this book! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone who loves a great story.

What a delight!

I ordered this audio book for two reasons. One, I love classics ... and two, a previous reviewer raved about the narrator's outstanding skill (Simon Vance). I agree 200%. Mr. Vance made David Copperfield literally come alive for me, performing each voice with extreme skill and precision - even women and youngsters. And Charles Dickens' reputation needs no further endorsement. The story was so gripping, I felt as if I actually knew the characters and was greatly disappointed when it concluded. I could have read (listened, in this case!) and read and read and read.