~ 1838 ~
Oliver Twist is a novel written by Charles Dickens and was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839. The story follows an orphan boy who escapes a workhouse and ends up in London where he meets a gang of pickpockets led by an elderly criminal named Fagin. He discovers the secrets of his parentage and ultimately reconnects with his remaining family. The novel showcases the harsh realities of the lives of criminals and orphans in London during the mid-19th century, including child labor, domestic violence, and street children. The book has been adapted into numerous films and a musical. Dickens himself spent two years of his teenage life in a workhouse, which is likely to have influenced the novel.