Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Name: Oliver Twist
Author: Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist is the story of an orphan boy born in a workhouse in England in the early 19th century. After being mistreated by the workhouse staff, Oliver runs away to London, where he meets the Artful Dodger, a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal, Fagin. Oliver is taken in by the gang and taught their criminal ways, but he is eventually rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman. Oliver is taken in by the gentleman's family, where he is welcomed and treated kindly. However, Oliver's newfound happiness is threatened when the evil Bill Sikes, a member of Fagin's gang, kidnaps him. With the help of the kind gentleman and his family, Oliver is eventually rescued and the criminals are brought to justice. In the end, Oliver is adopted by the kind gentleman and lives happily ever after.

By Charles Dickens · First published 1837 · Genre: Social Realism, Gothic Fiction, Satire · 53 chapters · 156,188 words

First lines

Among other public buildings in a certain town, which for many reasons it will be prudent to refrain from mentioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born; on a day and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, in this stage of the business at all events; the item of mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter.

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Oliver Twist is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles Dickens, dated 1837 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Charles Dickens
Date: 1837 CE
Language: English
Genres: Social Realism, Gothic Fiction, Satire, Romance
Length: 156,188 words
Structure: 53 chapters, 3,639 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Social Realism — The novel is set in the early 19th century and follows the life of an orphan, Oliver Twist, as he navigates the poverty and crime of London's slums.
Gothic Fiction — The novel contains elements of the Gothic genre, such as dark and mysterious settings, and a sense of foreboding and suspense.
Satire — The novel is a satire of the Poor Laws of the time, which Dickens believed were unjust and cruel.
Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between Oliver and Nancy, a young woman who helps him escape from the clutches of the criminal Fagin.