Title: Oliver Twist
First published: 1800
Description: Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress, is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. The story follows the titular orphan, who, after being raised in a workhouse, escapes to London, where he meets a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin, discovers the secrets of his parentage, and reconnects with his remaining family.

Oliver Twist unromantically portrays the sordid lives of criminals, and exposes the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century.[2] The alternative title, The Parish Boy's Progress, alludes to Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, as well as the 18th-century caricature series by painter William Hogarth, A Rake's Progress and A Harlot's Progress.

In an early example of the social novel, Dickens satirises child labour, domestic violence, the recruitment of children as criminals, and the presence of street children. The novel may have been inspired by the story of Robert Blincoe, an orphan whose account of working as a child labourer in a cotton mill was widely read in the 1830s. It is likely that Dickens's own experiences as a youth contributed as well, considering he spent two years of his life in the workhouse at the age of 12 and subsequently, missed out on some of his education.
Subjects: Bildungsromans, Boys, Brigands and robbers, British and irish fiction (fictional works by one author), British fiction, Children, Children's fiction, Children's stories, Classic, Coming of age, Criminals, Criminels, Criticism and interpretation, Customs, Enfants pauvres, English language, English literature, Fiction, fiction classics, Historical fiction, History, Identity (Psychology), Juvenile fiction, Kidnapping, Kidnapping victims, Literature, Literature and fiction, Manners and customs, Manuels pour allophones, Missing persons, Novels, Orphans, Poor children, Poverty, Readers, Robbers and outlaws, Social conditions, Social life, Social life and customs, Sources, Stories, Street life, Thieves, Victimes d'enlèvement, Victims, Vie dans la rue, YA, Young adult, serials, workhouses, child labour, domestic violence, street children, Kidnap victims, Pickpockets, English fiction, Orphans -- Juvenile drama, Children's plays, English, London (England) -- Social conditions -- 19th century -- Juvenile drama, Poor, Dickens, charles , 1812-1870, Twist, oliver, Kidnapping victims--fiction, Criminals--fiction, Orphans--fiction, Boys--fiction, Pr4567.a2 k35 1993, 823/.8, Criminals, fiction, London (england), fiction, Fiction, coming of age, Crime, fiction, Large type books, Orphans, fiction, Robbers and outlaws, fiction, England, fiction, Language and languages, Drama, Literature, british isles, London (england), history, fiction, Fiction, psychological, Fiction, mystery & detective, general, Children's plays, Plays, Fiction, historical, general, English language, juvenile literature, Fiction, general, Long Now Manual for Civilization, Romans, nouvelles, Oliver Twist (Fictitious character), Adventure stories, Bookplate
Places: England, London, Mudfog, Newgate Prison, Great Britain, London (England)
People: Oliver Twist (Fictional Character), Mr Bumble, Oliver Twist, Mr. Sowerberry, Mrs Sowerberry, Mrs. Mann, Noah Claypole, Charlotte, Mr. Gamfield, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Grimwig, Mrs. Bedwin, Rose Maylie, Lindsay Maylie, Harry Maylie, Mr. Losberne, Mr. Giles, Mr. Brittles, Duff, Blathers, Fagin, Bill Sikes, Bull's Eye, Artful Dodger, Charley Bates, Toby Crackit, Nancy, Bet, Barney, Agnes Fleming, Mr. Leeford, Old Sally, Mrs. Corney, Monks, Monks's mother, Mr. Fang, Tom Chitling
Time periods: 19th Century