• ISBN13: 9788124800034
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: English Literature
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Peacock Books
• Publication Date: July 28, 2022
• Pages: 472
• Original Price: INR 325.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 320 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): General

Oliver Twist, Dickens's critique of the harsh Poor Law of 1834, and a grim picture of the sordid reality the London underworld of Dickens's times, shows Dickens's deep concern for the underprivileged. The only token of identity left by his dying mother to Oliver Twist – born in the workhouse, and orphaned at birth – is stolen. Spending his early childhood in neglect and near starvation Oliver joins the workhouse at nine, and has early taste of humiliation, injustice, torture, and hunger, as he switches jobs and places from undertaker's boy to trainee pickpocket until he finds shelter, as a wounded child burglar, with Mrs Maylie and her protegee, Rose, by whom he is kindly treated and brought up. But can he escape Fagin, the brutal gang leader of a gang of thieves? Can he discover his parentage? When and how shall the long spell of Oliver's hardship and unhappiness come to an end?

Charles Dickens (1812-70) was born at Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, the second of eight children. His father, who was a government clerk, was imprisoned for debt and Dickens was sent to work at the age of twelve. His experiences of this period haunted him until the end of his life and inspired much of his fiction, notably the early chapters of David Copperfield. Mastering shorthand, he became reporter of debates in the commons for the Morning Chronicle. He started publishing sketches in various periodicals, which were subsequently republished as Sketches of Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People (1836-37). The Pickwic Papers were published in 1836-37. After a slow start, he earned immense popularity and embarked on a promising future. One of the secrets of his success was the method of cheap serial publication which he used for all his novels. In April 1836, Dickens married the pretty Catherine. On Christmas Day 1836 he met John Forester, who became his close friend and biographer. He published Oliver Twist (1837-38) followed by Nicholas Nickleby (1838-39), The Old Curiosity Shop (1840-41) and Barnaby Rudge (1841). In 1842 Dickens and his wife visited America but, in spite of triumphant reception, he returned disillusioned. His American Notes (1842) and Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44) caused much offence in America. In America he advocated international copyright and the abolition of slavery. His series of Christmas books earned him immense popularity. The first, A Christmas Carol, appeared in 1843. Dombey and Son (1844-46) and David Copperfield (1849-50) were more serious in theme and more carefully planned than his early novels. In Dickens’s later work, his social criticism became more radical and his comedy more savage. He published Bleak House in 1853 which was followed by Hard Times (1854), Little Dorrit (1857), A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Great Expectations (1860-61) and Our Mutual Friend (1864-65). His admiration for the young actress Ellen Ternan further strained his marriage deteriorating over years and led to his separation from Catherine in 1858. Dickens died on 9 June 1870 and his last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, remained incomplete.

• I Treats of the Place where Oliver Twist was Born, and of the Circumstances attending his Birth 1
• II Treats of Oliver Twist's Growth, Education, and Board 4
• III Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a Place, which would not have been a Sinecure 15
• IV Oliver, being offered another Place, makes his first Entry into Public Life 25
• V Oliver mingles with new Associates. Going to a Funeral for the first Time, he forms an unfavourable Notion of his Master's Business 33
• VI Oliver, being goaded by the Taunts of Noah, rouses into Action, and rather astonishes him 44
• VII Oliver continues refractory 50
• VIII Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the Road a Strange sort of young Gentleman 57
• IX Containing further Particulars concerning the pleasant old Gentleman and his hopeful Pupils 66
• X Oliver becomes better acquainted with the Characters of his new Associates; andpurchases Experience at a High Price. Being a short, but very important Chapter, in this History 73
• XI Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; and furnishes a slight Specimen of his Mode of administering Justice 79
• XII In which Oliver is taken better Care of than he ever was before. And in which the Narrative reverts to the merry old Gentleman and his youthful Friends 87
• XIII Some new acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent Reader, connected with whom, various pleasant Matters are related, appertaining to this History 97
• XIV Comprising further Particulars of Oliver’s Stay at Mr. Brownlow’s. With the remarkable Prediction which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him, when he went out on an Errand 105
• XV Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were 116
• XVI Relates what became of Oliver Twist after he has been claimed by Nancy 123
• XVII Oliver’s Destiny continuing unpropitious, brings a Great Man to London to injure his Reputation 133
• XVIII How Oliver passed his Time, in the improving Society of his reputable Friends 143
• XIX In which a notable Plan is discussed and determined on 152
• XX Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes 161
• XXI The Expedition 170
• XXII The Burglary 176
• XXIII Which contains the Substance of a pleasant Conversation between Mr. Bumble and a Lady; and shows that even a Beadle may be susceptible on some Points 184
• XXIV Treats of a very poor Subject. But is a short one, and may be found of Importance in this History 192
• XXV Wherein this History reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company 198
• XXVI In which a mysterious Character appears upon the Scene, and many Things, inseparable from this History, are done and performed 205
• XXVII Atones for the Unpoliteness of a former Chapter; which deserted a Lady, most unceremoniously 217
• XXVIII Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his Adventures 225
• XXIX Has an introductory Account of the Inmates of the House to which Oliver resorted 236
• XXX Relates what Oliver’s new Visitors thought of him 240
• XXXI Involves a critical Position 246
• XXXII Of the happy Life Oliver began to lead with his kind Friends 258
• XXXIII Wherein the Happiness of Oliver and his Friends experiences a sudden Check 267
• XXXIV Contains some introductory Particulars relative to a young Gentleman who now arrives upon the Scene; and a new Adventure which happened to Oliver 276
• XXXV Containing the unsatisfactory Result of Oliver’s Adventure; and a Conversation of some Importance between Harry Maylie and Rose 287
• XXXVI Is a very short one, and may appear of no great Importance in its Place. But it should be read notwithstanding, as a Sequel to the last, and a Key to one that will follow when its Time arrives 294
• XXXVII In which the Reader may perceive a Contrast, not uncommon in matrimonial Cases 297
• XXXVIII Containing an Account of what passed between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Mr. Monks, at their nocturnal Interview 308
• XXXIX Introduces some respectable Characters with whom the Reader is already acquainted, and shows how Monks and the Jew laid their worthy Heads together 320
• XL A strange Interview, which is a Sequel to the last Chapter 335
• XLI Containing fresh Discoveries, and showing that Surprises, like Misfortunes, seldom come alone 342
• XLII An old Acquaintance of Oliver’s exhibiting decided Marks of Genius, becomes a public Character in the Metropolis 352
• XLIII Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger got into Trouble 364
• XLIV The Time arrives for Nancy to redeem her Pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails 375
• XLV Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a secret Mission 381
• XLVI The Appointment kept 385
• XLVII Fatal Consequences 396
• XLVIII The Flight of Sikes 403
• XLIX Monks and Mr. Brownlow at length meet. Their Conversation, and the Intelligence that interrupts it 413
• L The Pursuit and Escape 423
• LI Affording an Explanation of more Mysteries than one, and comprehending a Proposal of Marriage with no Word of Settlement or Pin-money 435
• LII Fagin’s Last Night alive 449
• LIII And Last 458