# Preface to the Charles Dickens Edition explained — David Copperfield

> Chapter companion for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

In this preface, Dickens reflects on the personal and emotional experience of completing David Copperfield, describing the difficulty of detaching himself from the story and its characters. He confesses that of all his books, this one is his favorite, and he regards it as a beloved child of his imagination.

## Themes in this chapter

### Memory and Nostalgia

Dickens looks back on the writing of the novel with a mix of pleasure and regret, emphasizing the nostalgic bond between author and his creation.

## Character check-ins

### David Copperfield

Dickens refers to David Copperfield as his favorite character and the 'child of his fancy,' indicating the deep personal connection he feels to the protagonist.

## Key lines

> Of all my books, I like this the best.

David Copperfield is Dickens's personal favorite among his own novels.

_This line reveals the author's deep affection for the work, comparing it to a favored child._

> I was in danger of wearying the reader with personal confidences and private emotions.

Dickens worried that his intense personal feelings about the book might bore his audience.

_The author acknowledges the difficulty of separating his own emotions from the narrative._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/preface-to-the-charles-dickens-edition
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_copperfield_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters