, or The Parish Boy's Progress , is Charles Dickens's second novel and a seminal work of social-problem fiction that challenged the harsh realities of Victorian England. Originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, the story uses the journey of a young orphan to expose the systemic cruelty of the Poor Laws and the dangerous criminal underbelly of London. Plot Summary
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The narrative follows , an orphan born in a bleak workhouse where he is raised in miserable, near-starving conditions. After infamously "asking for more" gruel, he is cast out and eventually escapes to London. There, he unwittingly joins a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the manipulative Fagin and the Artful Dodger. Throughout his perilous journey, Oliver must navigate the violence of characters like Bill Sikes while slowly uncovering the mystery of his true parentage. Key Themes , or The Parish Boy's Progress , is
The definitive source for free, plain-text and EPUB versions of historical texts. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Oliver Twist, Vol