David and Little Em'ly (1924, p. 50) and the cover of the book (1911). Harold Copping's twin studies of young, upper-middle-class David and Em'ly Peggotty in Character Sketches from Dickens. Colour lithography. Left: 4 ⅞ by 3 ½ inches (12.5 x 9 cm), framed. Book cover, right: 9 ⅝ by 6 ⅞ inches (24.5 x 17.4 cm), framed. [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Commentary: "I Have a Change"
The scene chosen to exemplify the happier aspects of the protagonist's childhood, "David and Little Em'ly," occurs on the Yarmouth sands when David goes to stay with Daniel Peggotty, whose family lives in a "kind of superannuated boat, . . . high and dry on the ground," which Phiz depicted as an upside down, even though the text does not so specify. Copping chose to be guided by the letterpress rather than by the original Phiz illustration. The moment realized occurs in instalment one (Chapter 3, "I Have a Change," May 1849).
"Of all my books, I like this [David Copperfield] 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."
"So wrote Dickens in the preface to the original edition, and his own choice is shared by thousands of his readers. The book is in many respects the story of Dickens's own life up to a certain period, and the reality of it has stamped it as one of the first half-dozen novels in the language."
Full as it is of incident, whimsicality, humour, pathos and adventure, the outstanding features of the book are its group of characters, all of whom become staunch friends wherever his books are read.
The four incidents following, deal with different periods of David's life, associated with Little Em'ly, Mr. Micawber, Uriah Heep, and many others — all old acquaintances. [B. W. Matz, 89]
In fact, as the depictions of David in the four illustrations make obvious, the artist's interests lie with David the child rather than with David the adult.
Relevant Illustrated Editions of this Novel (1849 through 1910)
- David Copperfield (homepage)
- Phiz's 40 serial illustrations for David Copperfield (May 1849 - November 1850)
- O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 1, 1862)
- O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 2, 1862)
- O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 3, 1862)
- Sol Eytinge, Junior's sixteen Diamond Edition Illustrations (1867)
- W. H. C. Groome's seven illustrations for the Collins Clear-type Pocket Edition, Vol. I (1907)
- Kyd's five Player's Cigarette Cards, 1910
- Harry Furniss's 29 Illustrations for Dickens's The Personal Experience and History of David Copperfield in the Charles Dickens Library Edition (1910)
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
Dickens, Charles. David Copperfield. Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"). The Centenary Edition. London and New York: Chapman & Hall, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.
Copping, Harold. "Mr. Peggotty and Little Em'ly." Character Sketches from Dickens. A set of six cards. Oilette. London: Raphael Tuck, 1911.
Matz, B. W., and Kate Perugini; illustrated by Harold Copping. Character Sketches from Dickens. London: Raphael Tuck, 1924. Copy in the Paterson Library, Lakehead University.
Created 16 February 2009 Last modified 15 October 2023