David Copperfield

Young David Copperfield is born to his recently widowed mother Clara and almost immediately disowned by his only living relative, Betsey Trotwood, who was expecting a girl. David has an enjoyable life with his mother and their cook-servant, Clara Peggotty. When he is seven, however, he is sent off with Peggotty to visit her family at the seaside and returns that his mother has remarried, to the cruel Edward Murdstone.

With his mother gone, David is put to work by Murdstone. Rather than working in the counting house however, he is put to work cleaning empty wine bottles. He is introduced to Wilkins Micawber and moves into one of the spare rooms. Micawber, however, is in dire financial straits and soon flees. As tensions rise, David flees to his aunt Betsey. After some consideration, she lets him stay and even rebuffs an attempt by Murdstone to retrieve him. She sends him off to a good school where he boards with solicitor Mr Wickfield and his daughter Agnes.