The Personal History of David Copperfield.

DICKENS, Charles.

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

“It's in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present": First Edition of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1850.

$2,500.00

In Stock Item Number: RRB-149762

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First edition in book form of "the most perfect of all the Dickens novels" (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards by Henry Sotheran, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Illustrated with 40 plates designed & etched on steel by Hablot K. Browne (Phiz), including frontispiece and additional pictorial title. In very good condition, ownership inscriptions. A nice example of the first edition of one of Dickens' most enduring works.

"Charles Dickens and Hablot Knight Browne are the most celebrated author-artist team in the history of English book illustration," and Copperfield was their "most popular success" (Hodnett, 111-12). Charles Dickens’ The Personal History of David Copperfield is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and social mobility through the life of its protagonist, David Copperfield. Often considered one of Dickens’ most personal works, the novel reflects his own experiences with childhood hardship, labor, and the pursuit of literary success. Through a rich cast of characters, including the benevolent Betsey Trotwood, the villainous Uriah Heep, and the tragic yet endearing Mr. Micawber, Dickens examines issues of class, ambition, and personal integrity. The novel’s blend of realism and sentimentality, combined with its first-person narrative, allows for a deeply introspective and emotionally resonant exploration of personal growth. David Copperfield remains one of Dickens’ most celebrated works, praised for its vivid characterizations and its insightful portrayal of 19th-century English society.