Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Synopsis:

This is a fiction book that takes place in England in the 1800s. It follows Oliver, an orphan who is raised in a workhouse and escapes to London and meets a gang of young pickpockets led by Fagin. He is first an apprentice to an undertaker and then escapes to London and meets Jack Dawkins (the artful Dodger) who works for Fagin as a pickpocket.

Oliver begins training with Fagin and the pickpockets but is pursued, apprehended, and arrested but Brownlow intervenes and takes Oliver into his home and takes care of him. Fagin sends Nancy and her lover Bill Sikes to kidnap Oliver and send him back to Fagin. Fagin forces Oliver to participate in a burglary planned by Sikes.

However, the robbery goes wrong and Sikes escapes and Oliver is wounded and ends up being cared for by the people that he was supposed to rob: Miss Rose and Mrs. Maylie. Nancy finds out about Oliver’s past and tells Rose who tells Mr. Brownlow. Oliver discovers that Mrs. Maylie is his maternal aunt. He is finally adopted by Mr. Brownlow.

Review:

I enjoyed this book and loved the character of Oliver and how he remains pure and innocent despite all his hardships he has suffered.

“How the whole current of his recollections ran back to old times, and what a crowd of emotions were wakened up in his breast, when they turned into that which he had traversed on foot: a poor, homeless, wandering boy, without a roof to shelter his head or a friend to help him.”

“And consider, ma’am, said Oliver, as the tears forced themselves into his eyes, despite of his efforts to the contrary: “oh consider how young and good she is, and what pleasure and comfort she gives to all about her. I am sure-certain-quite certain- that for your sake who are so good yourself; and for her own; and for the sake of all she makes me so happy; she will not die. Heaven will never let her die so young.”

The simple fact was that Oliver, instead of possessing too little feeling, possessed rather too much, and was in a fair way of being reduced to a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness for life, by the ill usage he had received.