David Copperfield (1999 Film) - Key Locations Featured in The Story

Key Locations Featured in The Story

• Blunderstone is the village in Norfolk where David Copperfield was born. He lived at a house called The Rookery with his mother Clara and servant Peggotty. When Clara Copperfield married Mr Murdstone, he moved into the house and was soon joined by his sister. Their presence turned the house into an unhappy place and David suffered particular cruelty, being sent away to Salem House boarding school after he bit Mr Murdstone during a beating. David finally left Blunderstone after his mother's death, when Mr Murdstone sent him to work in London.

• Yarmouth is the Norfolk seaside town where Peggotty's relatives lived in a boat house with their friend Mrs Gummidge. David visited the place as a child and returned about a decade later to visit the Peggotty family. After Ham's death, Dan, Emily and Mrs Gummidge moved to Australia to start a new life - something which was particularly beneficial to Emily after her traumatic life as a prostitute which evolved from her affair with Steerforth.

• Salem House is the London boarding school where David Copperfield was sent after he bit Mr Murdstone. The cruel headteacher, Mr Creakle, was a friend of Mr Murdstone and singled out David for extra torment. David left the school after his mother's death, when he was sent to work at Mr Murdstone's blacking factory.

• London first features in the story when David was sent to work in Mr Murdstone's blacking shop. He lived with the financially troubled Mr Micawber, who served time in a debtor's prison, until the Micawbers moved to Plymouth. David then decided to go to Dover in the hope that Betsey Trotwood would take him in. London featured again in the story when David began his working life as a clerk and was apprenticed to a lawyer called Mr Spenlow. During his time in London, David met Dora Spenlow - who was to be his first wife.

• Dover is the seaside town in Kent where David went to find Betsey Trotwood after the Micawbers left London. She agreed to take him in and he lived at the house with Betsey and her lodger Mr Dick.

• Canterbury is the city where David Copperfield resumed his education. He grew up as a lodger at the house of Mr Wickfield, Betsey's Trotwood's lifelong friend, whose daughter Agnes eventually became David's second wife and mother of their three children. Also living at the house was Mr Wickfield's lurking clerk Uriah Heep, who was eventually discovered to have committed fraud against Mr Wickfield.

• Highgate is the mansion where James Steerforth lived with his mother Mrs Steerforth and his cousin Rosa Dartle. David visited the house several times, first after he met Steerforth for the first time since his schooldays, again when he informed Mrs Steerforth that her son had run away with Emily, and last of all when he informed Mrs Steerforth that her son has drowned at Yarmouth.