Oliver Twist, or The Parish Boy's Progress was Charles Dickens' second novel, following The Pickwick Papers, and was published as a serial in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany between 1837 and 1839. It details the misadventures of its eponymous character, Oliver Twist, born in a Victorian-era workhouse, his mother dying within minutes of his birth. He is raised in miserable conditions, half-starved, and then sent out as an apprentice to an undertaker. Running away from this situation, he walks to London and falls under the influence of a criminal gang run by an old man called Fagin, who wants to employ the child as a pickpocket.
The novel graphically depicts the wretched living conditions of much of the poor people of Victorian times and the disgusting slums in which they were forced to live. It has been accused of perpetrating anti-Semitic stereotypes in the character of Fagin. Interestingly, while the serial was still running in the magazine, Dickens was eventually persuaded that he was wrong in this and removed many such usages in later episodes.
Oliver Twist was immediately popular in serial form, with its often gripping story and lurid details. It has remained one of Dickens' best-loved novels, and the story has often been made into films and television series, as well as into a very popular musical, Oliver!
Perfect for readers who love richly detailed Victorian narratives and compelling underdog stories, this timeless masterpiece showcases Dickens at his finest as he exposes the harsh realities of 19th-century society through the eyes of an unforgettable young hero. With its memorable characters, gripping plot, and powerful social commentary, Oliver Twist remains as relevant and emotionally resonant today as when first published.