• David Copperfield

  • By: Charles Dickens
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 33 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,663 ratings)

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David Copperfield  By  cover art

David Copperfield

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Editorial reviews

At 34 hours in length, this is quite an undertaking, but there's no one better qualified than Simon Vance to lead us through this audio journey. He parses the author's long sentences well, pausing sufficiently to make the details easy to follow while still maintaining a quick enough pace to keep the story going. Most enjoyable is his voicing of the myriad characters who appear in the narrative - and characters they certainly are. Vance times their occasionally hilarious exchanges especially well. All of this is delivered in a manner that suggests that Vance revels in Dickens's prose and sly humor, and the listener cannot help but revel along with him. Three cheers for Vance - and not the least for his stamina!

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

What listeners say about David Copperfield

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PRICELESS

How marvelously grand to suckle on a brilliant classic again after too many years!

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I read book in 1990 and lately listened to it

One of Dickens finest and to have read it years ago and to have listened to it was as good. I'm happy I did both and you will be too.

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Charles Dickens was a GENIUS

Dickens’ writing is totally awesome. No one dead or alive has his genius and ability with words. His biggest talent, in my opinion, is in creating characters that are brilliantly vivid and memorable. Many of the names of his characters are today used to describe similar people , such as Uriah Heep from David Copperfield is used to describe an obsequious and devious person. There are numerous amazing characters in each book – some kind, some ridiculous, some villainous – but all interesting. Dickens is also the master storyteller and knows how to tell a tale that pulls in the reader/listener completely. The dialog is wonderful, and the story is usually humorous, but it can be so sad that it can make one sob.

David Copperfield is one of my favorite Dickens’ novels. It is told from David’s point of view and is the history of his life. I have often read that it is actually the story of Charles Dicken's life. The book begins with “I am born”. Poor David’s life begins happy with his mother and his nursemaid, Pegaty, but becomes pitifully bad when his mother remarries. It is so sad!!! Things look up when he finds his aunt, but there are twists and turns everywhere. It ends with all the plot lines tied up – very satisfying. The book was written about a hundred and fifty years ago, but you will be amazed at how contemporary the themes are.

Now, about the narrator, Simon Vance. He is perfect in this book. No one could have done a better job, absolutely no one. He has distinct accents for each character and they are marvelous. His rendition of kind brave Daniel Pegaty, the old seaman, is spectacular. However his female characters’ voices are extremely feminine, such as that of the silly child wife, Dora. I read the paper copy over forty years ago and was totally blown away by Dickens' genius with words, but I enjoyed the audible version even more because of Siman Vance's performance.

I could go on and on about this book, but it would be best for you to just listen to it. It was long, but worth every second of my time.

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Engrossing!

It's a wonderful tale of growth from child to adult. Long and can meander at times but I think that's the point. You become so invested in the story with Dickens' imagery and Simon Vance's amazing oration.

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  • nm
  • 07-08-19

Realism and grit in a fantastical dream...

A beautiful, moving novel that had me contemplating my own life and staring off a number of times. More realistic and harsh than Nicholas Nickleby, while at the same time a bit more fantastical and dreamy. A host of beloved characters with depths and histories that are a privilege to explore.

-another masterly narration by Simon Vance as well.

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Very enjoyable!

I've listened to this book before but heard it with new ears. Profoundly thought provoking.

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Memorable reading of a classic

The book, the writing AND the narration by Simon Vance will stay with me. His ability to create all the different voices, especially Uriah Heep, is just astonishing and wonderful. I had not ever read this book by Dickens and think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever listened to on Audible. So many wise words, excellent phrasing and descriptions and rich characters. Simply fantastic!

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Simon Vance is the best reader ...

I've always loved this book.Simon Vance brings it to life with comic skill. The exchanges between Uriah Heep, .Micawber and David alone are worth the price of admission.


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still a favourite

I loved David Copperfield when I first read it as a youth. I loved it even more this time around. Simon Vance's narration is superb, outstanding.
If you have never read or listened to a Dickens book before and are unsure where to start, you cannot do better than David Copperfield

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Worth every second

This is an opportunity for time-travel to the Victorian time, thinking of sharing this pleasure of a story with the people of that era, awaiting for Dickens’ weekly or monthly installments, and amazed by Vance’s extraordinary bringing the characters to life with his interpretation. How is it possible for a person to read a book aloud like that!

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