The novel was first published in monthly instalments, from February 1837 to April 1839, in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany. It was originally intended to form part of … See more

• Oliver Twist – an orphan child whose mother died at his birth
• Mr Bumble – a beadle in the parish workhouse where … See more

Dickens has been accused of portraying antisemitic stereotypes because of his portrayal of the Jewish character Fagin in Oliver Twist. Paul Vallely writes that Fagin is widely seen as … See more

Dickens's novel has been recorded many times as an audiobook. Notable recordings include:
• An … See more

Oliver Twist is born into a life of poverty and misfortune, raised in a workhouse in the fictional town of Mudfog. The children working there receive very little food; after six months, they … See more

In Oliver Twist, Dickens mixes grim realism with merciless satire to describe the effects of industrialism on 19th-century England and to criticise the harsh new Poor Laws. Oliver, an innocent child, is trapped in a world where his only options seem to be the … See more

Contemporary reviewers including John Forster and the Literary Gazette praised the book for its realistic depiction of social conditions. However … See more