David Copperfield (1935): Film vs Book

About the film

A boy loses his parents, works in a factory and gradually finds a family among a gallery of eccentric characters.

How close is it to the book?

The black-and-white film keeps the best-known episodes and the great comic characters, while the very long book is cut to a fraction.

Read or watch first?

The novel offers many more people and a fuller story of growing up.

What the book gives you

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

A rich, funny and moving story with unforgettable characters and a hero you cheer for.

Who will like it: Readers who love big, warm classics about growing up and finding family.