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On holiday with his wife and children, David Copperfield recalls his life. He recounts how he was brought up by his nurse, Peggotty, and how his idyllic childhood was altered forever by his sickly mother's marriage to the cruel Edward Murdstone.

Murdstone has appointed his sister Jane as housekeeper, and David is forbidden to associate with the servants, especially Peggotty. David and Murdstone develop a mutual dislike. Following a beating from Murdstone, David retaliates, which gets him shipped to a reform school.

After the death of David's mother, Murdstone takes David out of school and puts him to work in his London wine business as a bottlewasher and general labourer. David boards with the Micawbers, a kind family who live in desperate but genteel poverty, under constant harassment from creditors.

Arriving home from work one evening, David finds that the Micawbers are about to be taken to debtors' prison. Now homeless, David flees to his only surviving relative, Aunt Betsey, who lives near Dover. She takes him in and orders the Murdstones away when they come looking for David.

Aunt Betsey sends David to public school, where during term time he lives with her lawyer Mr Wickfield. The widower and his daughter Agnes welcome David's company.

After meeting old schoolfriend Steerforth at an inn, David invites him along to Yarmouth to visit Peggotty and her husband Barkis.

David has fallen in love with Dora Spenlow, the young daughter of his employer. After capturing her attention at her birthday party, David hopes that Dora will reciprocate his affection.

Ham reveals the news that his bride-to-be, Emily, has run away with Steerforth. Spenlow discovers David's letters to Dora and forbids David to see her anymore.

After the death of Spenlow, Dora and David wed. Tommy Traddles enters the Law and begins investigating the affairs of Wickfield and Heep.

After Dora's death, David's life seems empty and meaningless. After a period of unhappy wandering, he returns home to the end of an old friendship and the beginning of a new life with Agnes.