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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
PREFACE TO 1850 EDITION
Ido not find it easy to get sufficiently far away from this Book；
in the first sensations of having finished it； to refer to it with
the composure which this formal heading would seem to
require。 My interest in it； is so recent and strong； and my mind is
so divided between pleasure and regret—pleasure in the
achievement of a long design； regret in the separation from many
companions—that I am in danger of wearying the reader whom I
love； with personal confidences； and private emotions。
Besides which； all that I could say of the Story； to any purpose；
I have endeavoured to say in it。
It would concern the reader little； perhaps； to know； how
sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two…years’
imaginative task； or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing
some portion of himself into the shadowy world； when a crowd of
the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever。 Yet； I have
nothing else to tell； unless； indeed； I were to confess （which might
be of less moment still） that no one can ever believe this Narrative；
in the reading； more than I have believed it in the writing。
Instead of looking back； therefore； I will look forward。 I cannot
close this Volume more agreeably to myself； than with a hopeful
glance towards the time when I shall again put forth my two green
leaves once a month； and with a faithful remembrance of the
genial sun and showers that have fallen on these leaves of David
Copperfield； and made me happy。
London； October； 1850。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
PREFACE TO THE CHARLES DICKENS
EDITION
Iremarked in the original Preface to this Book； that I did not
find it easy to get sufficiently far away from it； in the first
sensations of having finished it； to refer to it with the
composure which this formal heading would seem to require。 My
interest in it was so recent and strong； and my mind was so
divided between pleasure and regret—pleasure in the
achievement of a long design； regret in the separation from many
companions—that I was in danger of wearying the reader with
personal confidences and private emotions。
Besides which； all that I could have said of the Story to any
purpose； I had endeavoured to say in it。
It would concern the reader little； perhaps； to know how
sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two…years’
imaginative task； or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing
some portion of himself into the shadowy world； when a crowd of
the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever。 Yet； I had
nothing else to tell； unless； indeed； I were to confess （which might
be of less moment still）； that no one can ever believe this
Narrative； in the reading； more than I believed it in the writing。
So true are these avowals at the present day； that I can now
only take the reader into one confidence more。 Of all my books； I
like this the best。 It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent
to every child of my fancy； and that no one can ever love that
family as dearly as I love them。 But； like many fond parents； I have
in my heart of hearts a favourite child。 And his name is DAVID
COPPERFIELD。 1869
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 1
I AM BORN
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。 To begin my life with the beginning
of my life； I record that I was born （as I have been informed and
believe） on a Friday； at twelve o’clock at night。 It was remarked
that the clock began to strike； and I began to cry； simultaneously。
In consideration of the day and hour of my birth； it was
declared by the nurse； and by some sage women in the
neighbourhood who had taken a lively interest in me several
months before there was any possibility of our becoming
personally acquainted； first； that I was destined to be unlucky in
life； and secondly； that I was privileged to see ghosts and spirits；
both these gifts inevitably attaching； as they believed； to all
unlucky infants of either gender； born towards the small hours on
a Friday night。
I need say nothing here； on the first head； because nothing can
show better than my history whether that prediction was verified
or falsified by the result。 On the second branch of the question； I
will only remark； that unless I ran through that part of my
inheritance while I was still a baby； I have not come into it yet。 But
I do not at all complain of having been kept out of this property；
and if anybody else should be in the present enjoyment of it； he is
heartily welcome to keep it。
I was born with a caul； which was advertised for sale； in the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
newspapers； at the low price of fifteen guineas。 Whether sea…going
people were short of money about that time； or were short of faith
and preferred cork jackets； I don’t know； all I know is； that there
was but one solitary bidding； and that was from an attorney
connected with the bill…broking business； who offered two pounds
in cash； and the balance in sherry； but declined to be guaranteed
from drowning on any higher bargain。 Consequently the
advertisement was withdrawn at a dead loss—for as to sherry； my
poor dear mother’s own sherry was in the market then—and ten
years afterwards； the caul was put up in a raffle down in our part
of the country； to fifty members at half…a…crown a head； the winner
to spend five shillings。 I was present myself； and I remember to
have felt quite uncomfortable and confused； at a part of myself
being disposed of in that way。 The caul was won； I recollect； by an
old lady with a hand…basket； who； very reluctantly； produced from
it the stipulated five shillings； all in halfpence； and twopence
halfpenny short—as it took an immense time and a great waste of
arithmetic； to endeavour without any effect to prove to her。 It is a
fact which will be long remembered as remarkable down there；
that she was never drowned； but died triumphantly in bed； at
ninety…two。 I have understood that it was； to the last； her proudest
boast； that she never had been on the water in her life； except
upon a bridge； and that over her tea （to which she was extremely
partial） she； to the last； expressed her indignation at the impiety of
mariners and others； who had the presumption to go ‘meandering’
about the world。 It was in vain to represent to her that some
conveniences； tea perhaps included； resulted from this
objectionable practice。 She always returned； with greater
emphasis and with an instinctive knowledge of the strength of her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
objection； ‘Let us have no meandering。’
Not to meander myself； at present； I will go back to my birth。
I was born at Blunderstone； in Suffolk； or ‘there by’； as they say
in Scotland。 I was a posthumous child。 My father’s eyes had closed
upon the li