David Copperfield was first published as a monthly feature by Bradbury & Evans from May 1849 to November 1850, and was later published as a complete novel. It is one of the most popular of Charles Dickens's works and has remained popular to the present day. It was also Dickens's own favourite. Much of David Copperfield is influenced by Dickens's own early childhood experiences, and many of the characters in the novel were influenced by people in his life. For example, the character of Micawber is based upon his own father. The novel, however, is not autobiographical, but it stays true to the social themes found in his other novels.
In the story, the character of David Copperfield experiences a happy early childhood with his mother, which quickly comes to an end when she marries the cruel Mr. Murdstone. At this time David is sent away to a run-down London boarding house named Salem House, where the boys are beaten by the cruel Mr. Creakle. When David's mother dies he is pulled out of school and forced to work at Murdstone's wine warehouse. He lives with the impoverished Micawber family, whom he grows to love. When Mr. Micawber is sent to debtor's prison David runs away and goes to live with his great-aunt, Miss Trotwood. His great-aunt adopts him and sends him to school in Canterbury, where he is happy once again. At Canterbury David lives with a lawyer named Mr. Wickfield, and his daughter Agnes. Mr. Wickfield proves to be an alcoholic and his sinister clerk, Uriah Heep, takes advantage of this to gain a partnership in the firm. David and Agnes form a strong and lasting friendship.
When David graduates he goes to work at the law firm of Mr. Spenlow and Jorkins, where he falls in love with Dora Spenlow and becomes engaged. When Miss Trotwood runs into financial trouble, David begins doing extra work to support her. He begins reporting on Parliament and writing stories for magazines. He then marries Dora, who shows herself to be an unskilled housewife. After the birth of their child, Dora becomes sick and dies, along with the baby. David and Mr. Peggotty succeed in locating the missing Em'ly. The scheming Uriah Heep is exposed as a criminal and a fraud. Steerforth and Ham (Em'ly's cousin) are killed in a shipwreck. David, still depressed by Dora's death, travels abroad for several years. David returns and realizes he loves Agnes Wickfield. The two marry and live happily ever after.