Oliver TwistCharles Dickens’s famous second novel recounts the story of a boy born in the workhouse and raised in an infant farm as he tries to make his way in the world. Intended to raise feeling against the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 (which had emphasized the workhouse as an appropriate means of dealing with the problem of poverty), Oliver Twist also provides a sweeping portrait of London life in the 1830s—including the life of the criminal elements in society. Oliver Twist was first published in serialised form (with illustrations by George Cruikshank) in Bentley’s Miscellany between February 1837 and April 1839. It was issued with some corrections and revisions in ten numbers in 1846 by Bradbury and Evans (which then also issued the same text in a single volume). Each of these ten numbers, including the Cruikshank illustrations and the advertisements, is included in this facsimile reprint of the 1846 edition. This is one of a series from Broadview Press of facsimile reprint editions—editions that provide readers with a direct sense of these works as the Victorians themselves experienced them. |
Contents
ITreats of the place where Oliver Twist was Born and of the Circumstances attending his Birth | 1 |
IITreats of Oliver Twists Growth Education and Board | 3 |
IIIRelates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a Place which would not have been a Sinecure | 10 |
IVOliver being offered another Place makes his first entry into Public Life | 16 |
VOliver mingles with new Associates Going to a Funeral for the first time he forms an unfavourable Notion of his Masters Business | 21 |
VIOliver being goaded by the Taunts of Noah rouses into Action and rather astonishes him | 29 |
VIIOliver continues refractory | 33 |
VIIIOliver walks to London He encounters on the road a strange sort of young Gentleman | 37 |
XXVIIILooks after Oliver and proceeds with his Adventures | 151 |
XXIXHas an introductory Account of the Inmates of the House to which Oliver resorted | 158 |
XXXRelates what Olivers new Visitors thought of him | 161 |
XXXIInvolves a critical Position | 165 |
XXXIIOf the happy life Oliver began to lead with his kind Friends | 173 |
XXXIIIWherein the Happiness of Oliver and his Friends experiences a sudden Check | 179 |
XXXIVContains some introductory Particulars relative to a young Gentleman who now arrives upon the Scene and a new Adventure which happene... | 185 |
XXXVContaining the unsatisfactory result of Olivers Adventure and a Conversation of some importance between Harry Maylie and Rose | 193 |
IXContaining further Particulars concerning the pleasant old Gentleman and his hopeful Pupils | 44 |
XOliver becomes better acquainted with the Characters of his new Associates and purchases experience at a high price Being a short but very import... | 48 |
XITreats of Mr Fang the Police Magistrate and furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of administering Justice | 52 |
XIIIn 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 Fr... | 58 |
XIIISome new Acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent Reader connected with whom various pleasant Matters are related appertaining to this ... | 65 |
XIVComprising further Particulars of Olivers stay at Mr Brownlows With the remarkable Prediction which one Mr Grimwig uttered concerning him ... | 70 |
XVShowing how very fond of Oliver Twist the merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were | 78 |
XVIRelates what became of Oliver Twist after he had been claimed by Nancy | 83 |
XVIIOlivers Destiny continuing unpropitious brings a Great Man to London to injure his Reputation | 90 |
XVIIIHow Oliver passed his time in the improving society of his reputable Friends | 97 |
XIXIn which a notable Plan is discussed and determined on | 102 |
XXWherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr William Sikes | 109 |
XXIThe Expedition | 115 |
XXIIThe Burglary | 119 |
XXIIIWhich contains the substance of a pleasant Conversation between Mr Bumble and a Lady and shows that even a Beadle may be susceptible on ... | 123 |
XXIVTreats of a very poor Subject But is a short one and may be found of importance in this History | 129 |
XXVWherein this History reverts to Mr Fagin and Company | 133 |
XXVIIn which a mysterious Character appears upon the scene and many things inseparable from this History are done and performed | 137 |
XXVIIAtones for the unpoliteness of a former Chapter which deserted a Lady most unceremoniously | 146 |
XXXVIIs 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 ... | 198 |
XXXVIIIn which the Reader may perceive a Contrast not uncommon in Matrimonial Cases | 200 |
XXXVIIIContaining an Account of what passed between Mr and Mrs Bumble and Monks at their nocturnal Interview | 207 |
XXXIXIntroduces some respectable Characters with whom the Reader is already acquainted and shows how Monks and the Jew laid their worthy Hea... | 214 |
XLA strange Interview which is a Sequel to the last Chapter | 225 |
XLIContaining fresh Discoveries and showing that Surprises like Misfortunes seldom come alone | 230 |
XLIIAn old Acquaintance of Olivers exhibiting decided marks of Genius becomes a public Character in the Metropolis | 237 |
XLIIIWherein is shown how the Artful Dodger got into Trouble | 244 |
XLIVThe Time arrives for Nancy to redeem her Pledge to Rose Maylie She fails | 252 |
XLVNoah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a secret Mission | 257 |
XLVIThe Appointment kept | 259 |
XLVIIFatal Consequences | 266 |
XLVIIIThe Flight of Sikes | 271 |
XLlXMonks and Mr Brownlow at length meet Their Conversation and the Intelligence that interrupts it | 278 |
LThe Pursuit and Escape | 285 |
LIAffording an Explanation of more Mysteries than One and comprehending a proposal of Marriage with no Word of Settlement or Pinmoney | 293 |
LIIThe Jews last Night alive | 302 |
LIIIAnd Last | 308 |
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Common terms and phrases
asked beadle better Bill Bill Sikes Blathers Bolter Brittles Brownlow Bumble Bumble's chair CHARLES DICKENS Charley Bates Charlotte child Chitling Claypole cloth lettered corner COUGH Crackit cried dark dear Dessert ditto doctor Dodger door DOUGLAS JERROLD eyes face Fagin feet fenders FLEET STREET GEORGE CRUIKSHANK Giles girl Grimwig hand Hatton Garden head hear heard heart ILLUSTRATIONS inquired IRONMONGERY laugh LOCOCK'S London looked Losberne ma'am MACASSAR OIL Mann Master Bates matron Maylie mind Monks morning morocco Nancy never NICKEL SILVER night Noah old gentleman old lady Oliver Twist Oliver's once ormolu pocket rejoined replied Oliver replied Sikes replied the Jew returned RIPPON and BURTON'S Rose Rose Maylie round silver smile Sowerberry stairs stopped tears tell thought Toby turned voice walked What's whispered woman words workhouse young lady