David Copperfield is universally acknowledged as one of the foremost works of auto-biographical fiction.
The story traces the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David was born in Blunderstone near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, in 1820, six months after the death of his father. He spends his early years with his mother and their housekeeper, Peggoty. When he is seven years old, his mother re-marries Edward Murdstone. He is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards. Murdstone thrashes him for falling behind in his studies.
Following one of these thrashings, he bites him and soon afterwards is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, with a ruthless headmaster, Mr. Creakle. There he befriends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles. David returns home for the holidays to learn that his mother has given birth to a baby boy, his mother and her baby die and David returns home immediately.
Not less than all this craft is the art of Dickens’ everfresh humour, at places, mingled with pathos that the entire panorama of human life lies bare, live and kicking, before us. Indeed, the book seems to be beckoning every curious reader and the call cannot be and should not be brushed aside.

• I am born, I observe, I have Change, I fall into Disgrace, Somebody turns up,Peggotty's dream comes true, Return, A visitor, Etc