The story traces the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, in 1820, six months after the death of his father. David spends his early years with his mother and their housekeeper, Peggotty. When he is seven years old, his mother re-marries Edward Murdstone. David is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards. Murdstone thrashes David for falling behind in his studies. Following one of these thrashings, David bites him and soon afterwards is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, with a ruthless headmaster, Mr. Creakle. There he befriends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles.
Birmingham had a way of pulling people back.
No matter how far they ran, how long they stayed gone, the smoke and grit clung to their bones like memory.
When Nora's dad had sent her away to London, her life had changed: she had changed.
She built a life of her own, she learned how to be independent, how to fend for herself.
After five years, she's back in Birmingham, where everything feels different but exactly the same all at once.
Back where it all began, where her soul still bled, back where loyalty was currency and love was a debt that never really got paid.