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

Wonderful classic

Would you consider the audio edition of David Copperfield to be better than the print version?

Not better, but just as good and I can accomplish all kinds of things and I never have to put the book down!

What did you like best about this story?

It has so many wonderful characters and is full of beautiful timeless advice for living life right.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Loved the different voices for the characters and I loved that he has a British accent it made the story even more authentic.

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

Most of the scenes where Mr Dick plays a big role, but most of all the scene where Traddles takes up for the school teacher and the scene where Aunt Betsy Trotwood tells the Murdstones what she thinks of them.

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written with many wonderful examples of great people and evil people also. He tells us about outer beauty being much more important than inner beauty in several characters. Stresses the importance of good moral character and the dangers of false christians. He shows us what a true christian is and the wonderful blessings God bestows on them. Dickens even shows how working hard and persevering always pays off and that we enjoy things more for it----he writes a lot about the evils of debt and that is something we as a country truly need a lesson on.

I love the story, the writing, everything!

Charles Dickens was an amazing writer. This is a must read. The story just takes you in and you live it all with David Copperfield.

My favourite Dickens

Being an avid Dickens fan, I love everything the man ever penned. I would have to say this is my favourite, however, because of the times I actually laughed out loud while listening. It has a huge number of "one liners" and unforgettable vignettes within the main story.

Excellent narration elevates listener to ecstasy

I genunienely laughed out loud and was moved, touched, entertained and uplifted by this wonderful tale by Charles Dickens. Vance's narration brings out the many subtleties, flourishes, beauty and the fun and wit of Dickens' language; the deep characterization and cracking plot will keep you completely hooked.

Wonderful Story!

Well written, well narrated, and I didn’t want to stop listening. A classic that is truly classic!

Pure Genius

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

#1. Simon Vance's narration is nothing short of genius. He brings so much color and life to the various characters with his voices and accents that the story positively comes to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tommy Traddles? Dr. Strong? Dan Peggotty? All brilliant as is Uriah Heep and David Copperfield himself. But Betsey Trotwood takes it. Her mixture of severity, idiosyncrasy and compassion and of course her heroic protection of young Davey made her my favorite.

Which scene was your favorite?

Best scene was Betsey Trotwood telling off the cruel Murdstones and undertaking to become Davey's lifelong protector. Very satisfying.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! But that would be some marathon. Almost every day as I arrived at work or home, I was sorry to leave off for a time.

David Copperfield.

David Copperfield is a most excellent read! As I am older now I can truly appreciate this extremely wonderful piece of fiction!

This is one of my favorite books

What made the experience of listening to David Copperfield the most enjoyable?

Even though Dickens consistently indulges in hyperbole and melodrama, it can't seriously detract from his brilliant, dry wit and amazing ability to create compelling characters and produce wonderful dialogue.Simon Vance did a great job of reading this. I particularly liked his pace and expression.

What did you like best about this story?

It rings true.

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

Alot of talent! He is able to increase both the humor and the tension in the story with his expressive voice and excellent timing.

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

Yes. I cried when Mr. Dick approaches David to tell him that he can help Doctor Strong and his wife because he knows he is mentally ill and that this factor will help him to approach the problem where someone else could not. I have a retarded brother and I can tell now and then that he does sense the difference between himself and others and it does bother him.

Any additional comments?

O how I wish we had the values and morals found in Dickens in our society today

NO THREAD UNWOVEN

Charles Dickens was 12 years old when abandoned in London. The story of David Copperfield seems semi-autobiographical. It is the story of an abandoned boy in 1800s' London. Copperfield grows to manhood to become a successful and revered writer.

As is true in most Dickens' stories, there are a multitude of characters; each with no unrevealed strength or weakness. Uriah Heap and James Steerforth are singular villains of greater evil than good; e.g.. Heap's evil is in false modesty and repugnance, Steerforth's evil is in professed superiority and demonstrated immorality. Clara Peggotty and Agnes Wickfield are singular angels of greater good than evil; e.g.. Peggotty's good is in sacrificed independence, and Agnes's good is in naive acceptance of life's vicissitude.

Each character in Dickens' story is described in memorable detail with no thread dangling by the end of the story. The threads of David Copperfield's story are woven into people's lives today. No one is purely evil. No one is purely good. Character is forged in a cauldron, cooked and mixed in a stew of parental genetics and life experience.

An old version, but EXCELLENT

I’ve been going through my back catalog and decided to finally listen to this book that I got a decade ago. I was worried at first that it would be a cheaper-sounding book, only because the cover looks a bit old fashioned. This was foolish.

Simon Vance is an excellent narrator and he did an incredible job bringing all of Dickens’ characters to life. Each character has a distinct voice to match the distinct way Dickens wrote them. Please get this version. It’s excellent.