Oliver Twist — Book Review
I don’t read classics. I find reading old English a bit hectic and the pace of classics is very tiring. Contemporary literary fiction (for me) is a priority. However, there are some classics which you just can’t ignore. Works of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy etc. are unmatched. I’ve made it a point to read at least the best works of these authors. And I’d suggest every book reader to do the same.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens — A Mini Review
There’s one major reason to read this book which is that it’s written by Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens is the pioneer of imaginative stories. His understanding of human nature, society is very deep. His writings portray traits of humans in a very dark yet subtle way.
Oliver Twist is basically the story of London, it’s suburbs and the City. It’s a portrayal of crime in the city. It depicts life of Londoners back in 19th century when industrial revolution had knocked the doors of Europe. It touches down on the cruel treatment of orphans in London and the manipulations they go through by the upper class.
Oliver was born in a workhouse, where his mother died and he is orphaned. He then grows up in an orphanage. After leaving the orphanage, he leaves to find work — child labour wasn’t that big a deal in this times and we see him doing petty jobs here and there without even getting paid. Until he gets caught up in a gang. He becomes a pickpocket. Their job is to steal handkerchiefs. One day he’s caught and taken to the court. The judge feels sorry for him and let’s him go. Oliver becomes a good man, and is no longer associated with criminal activities. But the gang lord doesn’t let him go too easily and blackmails him into getting back into the crime.
Oliver Twist is a novel revolving around society and how your environment plays a major role in determining your choices. But at the same time, it’s an account of how we can overcome all these influences and bring a change in our lives.
