Oliver Twist, or, the parish boy's progress

Author

Charles Dickens

Call Number

• FICTION DICK (CEN)

Publication Information

London, England : Penguin Books, [2003]

Physical Description

liii, 553 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm.

Summary

Tells the story of a poor orphan's adventures in the criminal underworld of mid-nineteenth-century London.

Notes

"First published 1837-8. Published in Penguin Classics 2002. Reprinted with revised Dickens chronology 2003." -- Title page verso.

"Editorial material copyright © Philip Horne, 2002. A Dickens Chronology copyright © Stephen Wall, 1995, 2003." -- Title page verso.

Contents

• Chapter 1. Treats of the place where Oliver Twist was born, and of the circumstances attending his birth
• Chapter 2. Treats of Oliver Twist's growth, education, and board
• Chapter 3. Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a place, which would not have been a sinecure
• Chapter 4. Oliver, being offered another place, makes his first entry into public life
• Chapter 5. Oliver mingles with new associates. Going to a funeral for the first time, he forms an unfavourable notion of his master's business
• Chapter 6. Oliver, being goaded by the taunts of Noah, rouses into action, and rather astonishes him
• Chapter 7. Oliver continues refractory
• Chapter 8. Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the road a strange sort of young gentleman
• Chapter 9. Containing further particulars concerning the pleasant old gentleman, and his hopeful pupils
• Chapter 10. 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
• Chapter 11. Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; and furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of administering justice
• Chapter 12. In which Oliver is taken better care of, than he ever was before. With some particulars concerning a certain picture
• Chapter 13. Reverts to the merry old gentleman and his youthful friends, through whom a new acquaintance is introduced to the intelligent reader, and connected with whom various pleasant matters are related appertaining to this history
• Chapter 14. 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
• Chapter 15. Shewing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were
• Chapter 16. Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he had been claimed by Nancy
• Chapter 17. Oliver's destiny continuing unpropitious, brings a great man to London to injure his reputation
• Chapter 18. How Oliver passed his time in the improving society of his reputable friends
• Chapter 19. In which a notable plan is discussed and determined on
• Chapter 20. Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes
• Chapter 21. The Expedition
• Chapter 22. The Burglary
• Chapter 23. 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
• Chapter 24. Treats of a very poor subject. But is a short one, and may be found of importance in this history
• Chapter 25. Wherein this history reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company
• Chapter 26. In which a mysterious character appears upon the scene; and many things, inseparable from this history, are done and performed
• Chapter 27. Atones for the unpoliteness of a former chapter; which deserted a lady, most unceremoniously
• Chapter 28. Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his adventures
• Chapter 29. Has an introductory account of the inmates of the house, to which Oliver resorted, and relates what they thought of him
• Chapter 30. Involves a critical position
• Chapter 31. Of the happy life Oliver began to lead with his kind friends
• Chapter 32. Wherein the happiness of Oliver and his friends experiences a sudden check
• Chapter 33. Contains some introductory particulars relative to a young gentleman who now arrives upon the scene, and a new adventure which happened to Oliver
• Chapter 34. Containing the unsatisfactory result of Oliver's adventure, and a conversation of some importance between Harry Maylie and Rose
• Chapter 35. 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
• Chapter 36. In which the reader, if he or she resort to the fifth chapter of this second book, will perceive a contrast not uncommon in matrimonial cases
• Chapter 37. Containing an account of what passed between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Monks at their nocturnal interview
• Chapter 38. Introduces some respectable characters with whom the reader is already acquainted, and shows how Monks and the Jew laid their worthy heads together
• Chapter 39. A strange interview, which is a sequel to the last chapter
• Chapter 40. Containing fresh discoveries, and showing that surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone
• Chapter 41. An old acquaintance of Oliver's, exhibiting decided marks of genius, becomes a public character in the metropolis
• Chapter 42. Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger got into trouble
• Chapter 43. The time arrives for Nancy to redeem her pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails. Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a secret mission
• Chapter 44. The Appointment kept
• Chapter 45. Fatal Consequences
• Chapter 46. The Flight of Sikes
• Chapter 47. Monks and Mr. Brownlow at length meet. Their conversation, and the intelligence that interrupts it
• Chapter 48. The Pursuit and Escape
• Chapter 49. Affording an explanation of more mysteries than one, and comprehending a proposal of marriage with no word of settlement or pin-money
• Chapter 50. The Jew's last night alive
• Chapter 51. And Last.