Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

Summary

Born and brought up in the appalling deprivation of the workhouse, the orphaned Oliver escapes and heads for London, only to fall into the hands of the notorious Fagin and his gang of child thieves. But Oliver is an innocent at heart, and the attempts by Fagin and the impudently witty Artful Dodger to teach him the tricks of the pick-pocket's trade lead only to his almost immediate capture. His subsequent rescue, by the kindly Mr Brownlow, is only the beginning of a series of adventures that lead him to an incredible discovery. This adaptation of Dickens' second novel is a moving tale of innocence and corruption. It features some of his most vital characters, from the diabolical Fagin to the murderous Bill Sikes and his mistress Nancy, whose love for Oliver is both her redemption and her downfall.

About the author

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in Hampshire on February 7, 1812. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office, who was well paid but often ended up in financial troubles. When Dickens was twelve years old he was send to work in a shoe polish factory because his family had been taken to the debtors' prison. His career as a writer of fiction started in 1833 when his short stories and essays began to appear in periodicals. The Pickwick Papers, his first commercial success, was published in 1836. The serialisation of Oliver Twist began in 1837. Many other novels followed and The Old Curiosity Shop brought Dickens international fame and he became a celebrity in America as well as Britain. Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
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