#1 in Literary fiction
Demon Copperhead
- 560
- Pages
- about 10 h
- Reading time
- NYT bestseller · 35 weeks on the list, peaked at #4
- Women's Prize for Fiction
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
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About the book
Demon Copperhead is a 2022 novel by Barbara Kingsolver. It was a co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and won the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction. Kingsolver was inspired by the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield. While Kingsolver's novel is similarly about a boy who experiences poverty, Demon Copperhead is set in Appalachia and explores contemporary issues. The book touches on themes of the social and economic stratification in Appalachia, child poverty in rural America, and drug addiction with a focus on the opioid crisis.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.8 across 875 ratings. With that many, the reader vote carries 83% of the weight and the score stays at 8.8 — the Literary fiction average of 8.3 barely moves it. A further +0.10 comes from the small bonus for major awards.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 9.1 | 7 | 1% |
| Hardcover | 8.8 | 868 | 99% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“This was an excellent read, but gosh it was so heartbreaking and depressing at times! It was so tough to read at times that I honestly felt like walking away from it. I read David Copperfield prior to this and it's sad to see that some things really haven't changed between then and now. Saying that, I enjoyed the parallels between this and David Copperfield, not just in terms of characters but the odd quote here and there too. It was dark, sad, heartbreaking and tough so whilst I do recommend it, I would urge caution because something like that might not be for everyone. Thank you t…”
“Kingsolver so adeptly writes in the voice of a young man, taking us on his truly epic journey. His life is hard, dark and disturbing at just about every turn. But we the readers see his good heart, his never ending search for love and belonging and ultimately, his cathartic redemption. Our book club thoroughly enjoyed this read- a new and timely take on David Copperfield. I highly recommend this read if you enjoy getting to know all the characters that make up a protagonist's life and you want to take the time to settle in and follow Demon's arc. Kingsolver's writing is magical. She is a gifte…”
“Dropped. Life's too short to read books that it feels like a chore I “have” to get through because “everyone says it's a great book”.”
Frequently asked
What is Demon Copperhead rated?
8.8 out of 10, from 875 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Demon Copperhead worth reading?
Readers give it 8.8/10 from 875 ratings, which puts it ahead of 100 % of the Literary fiction shelf.
How long does it take to read Demon Copperhead?
About 10 hours at an average reading pace — 560 pages.
Where does Demon Copperhead rank?
#1 in Literary fiction on the current snapshot.
Was Demon Copperhead a bestseller?
Yes — 35 weeks on the New York Times list, peaking at #4. Sales are shown here but never scored.
How long is Demon Copperhead?
It has 560 pages — longer than 72% of the ranked books in Literary fiction.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Literary fiction — with scores between 8.3 and 8.7, closest to this book.
