David Copperfield

I had read 'David Copperfield' years ago. So long ago in fact that I had forgotten the story. At the Strand Book Shop's annual sale (Chinnaswamy Stadium, Dec 2008) I picked up a Dover Giant Thrift Edition of the classic. I must confess I was attracted by the beautiful cover illustration - Vassily Tropinin's 1818 portrait of his son. I don't know anything about Tropinin. 

I also didn't know the longer title of the book: The Personal History and Experience of David Copperfield the Younger. 

This was Dickens' seventh novel and was published in 1850. From his preface I understand he took two years to write it.