Perhaps more than his other works, this novel is most closely based on Dickens’ own life experiences, which is perhaps why Dickens himself proclaimed “Of all my books, I like this the best”. Through the eyes of young David Copperfield, Dickens exposes the reader to the poverty, tragedy, social injustices, and occasional joy of mid-19th century England, all the while creating a typically Dickensian world populated by fascinating social situations and diverse and memorable characters with names such as Micawber, Murdstone, Steerforth, Peggotty, and Uriah Heep. This is a coming of age story in the most classic sense.