Oliver Twist facts for kids
Title page of the first edition
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| Author | Charles Dickens |
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| Original title | Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Poverty Crime |
| Genre | Social consciousness |
| Publisher | Richard Bentley |
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Publication date
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1838 |
| Media type | |
Oliver Twist is a famous book written by Charles Dickens. It was first published in 1838. This story is about a young orphan boy named Oliver. He goes on many adventures in the busy, sometimes dangerous, streets of London.
Oliver gets caught up with a group of pickpockets and thieves. He is forced to work with them. Luckily, a kind gentleman helps him escape this life. The book features memorable characters like Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sikes, and the Artful Dodger.
This novel is one of the first "social novels." It helps readers understand big problems of the time. These problems included children working hard jobs, children being forced into crime, and many kids living on the streets.
The story might have been inspired by a real person. Robert Blincoe was an orphan who worked in a cotton mill. His difficult life story was well-known in the 1830s. Charles Dickens himself worked as a child when he was young. This experience likely helped him write Oliver's story. The book also influenced other writers, like Horatio Alger, Jr. His stories were about poor boys in New York City.
Contents
About Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist is the second novel by the famous English writer Charles Dickens. It was first released in parts, like a TV series today, before becoming a full book in 1838. The full title is Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress.
The Story of Oliver
The story begins with Oliver being born in a workhouse. This was a place where poor people had to live and work. Oliver has a very tough start to life. He is treated badly and doesn't get enough food.
He eventually runs away to London. There, he meets a boy called the Artful Dodger. The Dodger seems friendly, but he leads Oliver to a hidden group of criminals. This group is led by an old man named Fagin.
Fagin teaches young boys how to be pickpockets. Oliver is forced to join them. He tries to be good, but it's hard to escape. He meets other characters like Nancy, who is kind to him, and the scary Bill Sikes.
Oliver eventually finds help from a kind gentleman. This man takes Oliver in and tries to give him a better life. The story follows Oliver's journey to find a real home and family.
Why This Book Matters
Oliver Twist is important because it showed people the harsh realities of life. It highlighted how difficult things were for poor children in England. Dickens wanted to make people aware of these problems.
The book talks about:
- Child Labor: Many children had to work long hours in bad conditions.
- Street Children: Lots of kids lived on the streets with no home or family.
- Crime: Some children were forced into crime to survive.
Dickens used his stories to make people think about social issues. He hoped his books would encourage changes to help those in need.
Adaptations of the Story
Oliver Twist has been very popular for a long time. It has been turned into many different things:
- Musical Play: There is a famous musical called Oliver!. It has popular songs and tells Oliver's story on stage.
- Movies: Many movies have been made based on the book. A well-known one is from 1948, where Alec Guinness played Fagin.
- Animated Film: Disney even made an animated movie called Oliver & Company. It's a modern version with cats and dogs in New York City.
Images for kids
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Mr Bumble by Kyd (Joseph Clayton Clarke)
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Bill Sikes by Kyd (Joseph Clayton Clarke)
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The Last Chance, by George Cruikshank.
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The earliest known playbill of a production of Oliver Twist. Marylebone Theatre, 1838
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See also
In Spanish: Oliver Twist para niños
