The gaunt, pathetic figure of orphan Oliver being refused more gruel has become a literary and cultural icon, embedded in the national consciousness as a searing image of poverty and helplessness, dramatizing as it does the extent to which what is taken for granted at home is denied in the workhouse. Yet the novel, a powerful indictment of the workhouse, is also more than that, for even as Oliver escapes its callous grasp, he is snared by the criminal underworld of Fagin's gang. Oliver's struggle to be free of Fagin and Sikes, and his desperate search for a loving, nurturing home, express the theme that forms the real crux of the book; the poignant depiction of the evils of homelessness and its consequences. Full of vivid characterizations, biting irony and ghoulish humor, Oliver Twist is one of Dickens most enduringly popular works. The Toby Press edition of Oliver Twist is based on the Gadshill Edition of 1897, and includes Dickens's preface to the third edition. It also features an introductory essay and chronology by Professor H.M. Daleski, the former President of the International Dickens Society and formerly Chairman of the Department of English at Hebrew University. Book jacket.

Introduction	p. xv
Chronology	p. xxxi
The Author's Preface to the Third Edition (1841)	p. xxxv
Treats of the place where Oliver Twist was born, and of the circumstances attending his birth	p. 1
Treats of Oliver Twist's growth, education, and board	p. 5
Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a place, which would not have been a sinecure	p. 17
Oliver, being offered another place, makes his first entry into public life	p. 27
Oliver mingles with new associates. Going to a funeral for the first time, he forms an unfavourable notion of his master's business	p. 35
Oliver, being goaded by the taunts of Noah, rouses into action, and rather astonishes him	p. 47
Oliver continues refractory	p. 53
Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the road a strange sort of young gentleman	p. 61
Containing further particulars concerning the pleasant old gentleman, and his hopeful pupils	p. 71
Oliver becomes better acquainted with the characters of his new associates; and purchases experience at a high price. Being a short, but very important chapter, in this history	p. 79
Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; and furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of administering justice	p. 85
In 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 friends	p. 95
Some new acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent reader, connected with whom, various pleasant matters are related, appertaining to this history	p. 105
Comprising further particulars of Oliver's stay at Mr. Brownlow's, with the remarkable prediction which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him, when he went out on an errand	p. 115
Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were	p. 127
Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he had been claimed by Nancy	p. 135
Oliver's destiny continuing unpropitious, brings a great man to London to injure his reputation	p. 147
How Oliver passed his time in the improving society of his reputable friends	p. 157
In which a notable plan is discussed and determined on	p. 167
Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes	p. 179
The Expedition	p. 189
The Burglary	p. 197
Which contains the substance of a pleasant conversation between Mr. Bumble and a lady; and shows that even a beadle may be susceptible on some points	p. 205
Treats of a very poor subject. But is a short one, and may be found of importance in this history	p. 213
Wherein this history reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company	p. 221
In which a mysterious character appears upon the scene; and many things, inseparable from this history, are done and performed	p. 229
Atones for the unpoliteness of a former chapter; which deserted a lady, most unceremoniously	p. 243
Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his adventures	p. 251
Has an introductory account of the inmates of the house, to which Oliver resorted	p. 261
Relates what Oliver's new visitors thought of him	p. 267
Involves a critical position	p. 275
Of the happy life Oliver began to lead with his kind friends	p. 287
Wherein the happiness of Oliver and his friends, experiences a sudden check	p. 297
Contains some introductory particulars relative to a young gentleman who now arrives upon the scene; and a new adventure which happened to Oliver	p. 307
Containing the unsatisfactory result of Oliver's adventure; and a conversation of some importance between Harry Maylie and Rose	p. 319
Is 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 to one that will follow when its time arrives	p. 327
In which the reader may perceive a contrast, not uncommon in matrimonial cases	p. 331
Containing an account of what passed between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Mr. Monks, at their nocturnal interview	p. 343
Introduces some respectable characters with whom the reader is already acquainted, and shows how Monks and the Jew laid their worthy heads together	p. 355
A strange interview, which is a sequel to the last chapter	p. 371
Containing fresh discoveries, and showing that surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone	p. 379
An old acquaintance of Oliver's, exhibiting decided marks of genius, becomes a public character in the metropolis	p. 391
Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger got into trouble	p. 403
The time arrives for Nancy to redeem her pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails	p. 415
Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a secret mission	p. 423
The Appointment kept	p. 427
Fatal Consequences	p. 439
The Flight of Sikes	p. 447
Monks and Mr. Brownlow at length meet. Their conversation, and the intelligence that interrupts it	p. 457
The Pursuit and Escape	p. 469
Affording an explanation of more mysteries than one, and comprehending a proposal of marriage with no word of settlement or pin-money	p. 483
Fagin's last night alive	p. 497
And Last	p. 507
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

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Oliver Twist

9780141439747

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