David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. The novel\'s full title is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery . It was first published as a serial in 1849–50, and as a book in 1850. Many elements of the novel follow events in Dickens\'s own life, and it is often considered his veiled autobiography. It was Dickens favourite among his own novels. In the preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens wrote, \"like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.\" The novel describes the journey of the protagonist David Copperfield; modeled after Dickens himself, from impoverished and miserable childhood to becoming a successful and famous author. Like some of his other novels, it contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse.