Oliver TwistThis darkly satiric indictment of the social ills of Victorian London tells the story of a young orphan who becomes involved with a gang of criminals. Oliver is a poor orphan living in 19th century London. Through a series of accidental events, he finds himself caught up with a gang of criminals, including such memorable characters as the Artful Dodger, Fagin, and Bill Sykes. The story centers around Oliver's inheritance, and is an indictment of the British Poor Laws, which allowed for the proliferation of such social evils as workhouses and child labor. As with many of Dickens's other novels, Oliver Twist is a darkly comic narrative whose sarcastic tone brings into sharp relief the social hypocrisy of the day. This edition includes: -A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information -A chronology of the author's life and work -A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context -An outline of key themes and plot points to guide the reader's own interpretations -Detailed explanatory notes -Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work -Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction -A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world¼s finest books to their full potential. |
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Common terms and phrases
Artful Dodger asked beadle Bedwin Bill Bill Sikes Blathers Bolter Brittles Brownlow Bumble Bumble's chair Chapter Charles Dickens Charley Bates Charlotte Chertsey child Chitling Claypole Corney cried dark dear Dickens Dickens's doctor Dodger door exclaimed eyes face Fagin Giles glance Grimwig hand Harry head hear heard heart heerd inquired Jacob's Island Jew's John Dawkins laugh London looked Losberne ma'am Mann Master Bates matron Maylie mind Monks morning Nancy never night Noah old gentleman old lady Oliver Twist Oliver's once pocket poor poor laws porochial rejoined replied Oliver replied Sikes replied the Jew returned Rose Rose Maylie round seemed shew smile smock-frock Sowerberry speak stairs stopped street tears tell thing thought tion took turned voice waistcoat walked What's whispered window woman words workhouse young lady
Popular passages
Page 19 - "I, Mrs. Mann. We name our fondlings in alphabetical order. The last was a S, — Swubble, I named him. This was a T, — Twist I named him. The next one as comes will be Unwin, and the next Vilkins. I have got names ready made to the end of the alphabet, and all the way through it again, when we come to Z.
Page 9 - ... the item of mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter.