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Notes from the Editors: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Published in conjunction with the Franklin Library de-luxe edition of 'David Copperfield', the book contains details of the writing of the novel and Dickens' own comments on its production, a brief history of Dickens' life and some details of extra illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne.
24 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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March 5, 2023
Twenty years after the novel 'David Copperfield' was published, Charles Dickens commented '... like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.' This is perhaps not surprising for many of the episodes in the novel reflected back on his childhood. Be that as it may, the book at once captured the hearts of the public and critics alike and it has continued to do so ever since.
David narrates the story and reviews his security and neglect, his comfort and deprivation, illusion and disillusionment that led to his career as a successful author and a happily married man [sounds familiar to dickens except the last aspect could be qualified with 'for a time a happily married man'].
There are several sub-plots along the way and Dickens had to be aware that if he changed his mind as he went along, he had to consider what had gone before in previous parts of the work. He always managed to get things to make sense even with Miss Mowcher who at one time seemed likely to play an evil part in Steerforth's seduction of Emily but later she helps bring one of the novel's villains to justice.
Anthony Trollope named Dickens 'Mr Popular Sentiment' because his writing so accurately mirrored Victorian England and the Editors include a short passage on 'The Victorian Age' to give the readers a feel for this approach. There are also passages on his literary influences such as Scott, Irving, Poe and others, and how he was regarded by other literary greats. On this latter subject, HG Wells, Feodor Dostoevsky, George Bernard Shaw and even Leo Tolstoy praised him. Tolstoy even singled out 'David Copperfield' with 'If you sift the world's prose literature, Dickens will remain;
sift Dickens, David Copperfield will remain, the description of the storm at sea will remain.'
And there is a piece about Phiz with mention of some drawings never before published, which now appear in the Franklin edition of the work; the Editors state that if these are compared to the engravings in early editions of David Copperfield, a few small differences will be noticed. This is when the engraver exercises his originality and departs a little from Phiz' work.
But let us leave the last word to William Makepeace Thackeray who read David Copperfield and exclaimed, 'Who can rival this great genius?'
David narrates the story and reviews his security and neglect, his comfort and deprivation, illusion and disillusionment that led to his career as a successful author and a happily married man [sounds familiar to dickens except the last aspect could be qualified with 'for a time a happily married man'].
There are several sub-plots along the way and Dickens had to be aware that if he changed his mind as he went along, he had to consider what had gone before in previous parts of the work. He always managed to get things to make sense even with Miss Mowcher who at one time seemed likely to play an evil part in Steerforth's seduction of Emily but later she helps bring one of the novel's villains to justice.
Anthony Trollope named Dickens 'Mr Popular Sentiment' because his writing so accurately mirrored Victorian England and the Editors include a short passage on 'The Victorian Age' to give the readers a feel for this approach. There are also passages on his literary influences such as Scott, Irving, Poe and others, and how he was regarded by other literary greats. On this latter subject, HG Wells, Feodor Dostoevsky, George Bernard Shaw and even Leo Tolstoy praised him. Tolstoy even singled out 'David Copperfield' with 'If you sift the world's prose literature, Dickens will remain;
sift Dickens, David Copperfield will remain, the description of the storm at sea will remain.'
And there is a piece about Phiz with mention of some drawings never before published, which now appear in the Franklin edition of the work; the Editors state that if these are compared to the engravings in early editions of David Copperfield, a few small differences will be noticed. This is when the engraver exercises his originality and departs a little from Phiz' work.
But let us leave the last word to William Makepeace Thackeray who read David Copperfield and exclaimed, 'Who can rival this great genius?'
Displaying 1 of 1 review