Oliver Twist (Collins Classics)

I've always loved the story of Oliver Twist-now I finally have an illustrated copy I'm even happier. This book is an unabridged copy and is searchable-a great feature. The cover has a picture of Oliver, all ragged with his little bundle. The table of contents takes you to Charles Dickens' preface, which is well worth reading, and to any chapter in the book. Alas, it does not take you to any of the illustrations, but they are beautifully rendered and very clear. I have the most basic Kindle and I have no trouble seeing all of the detail in the illustrations. The chapter headings list not only the number of the chapter, but the brief description Dickens wrote for each chapter, so that if you want to find a particular spot-say, when Oliver runs away to London, you can see that Chapter VIII has the summary "Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the road a strange sort of young gentleman." This makes it very easy to go to any part of the book you want to read. Warning: SPOILERS!!!! The story is one of a poor orphan boy, sold to an undertaker and abused until he runs away to London. He falls in with thieves and through a strange twist of fate is rescued by the man who was his father's best friend. It's a long story, filled with reversals of fortune and amazing coincidences, and although it has a happy ending, there is some genuine tragedy. It's a very sad scene when Oliver returns to the orphanage to get his best friend, Dick, who saw him off on his journey to London, only to find that Dick has died of untreated sickness. The prostitute, Nancy, has all the attributes of a character in a Greek tragedy-you desperately want her to leave the streets and her brutal boyfriend, Bill Sikes, and when she refuses to go, you have a sinking feeling that she isn't going to last much longer. When he beats her to death in their little room, it's a gruesome scene, but not a surprising one. The only relief from Fagin's gang comes from Charley, who reforms and leaves London to become a grazier. A word about Fagin-some might find the constant description of him as "the Jew" offensive. It is not meant as a pejorative, but rather as a handy label to define the arch-criminal. While it is true that Fagin is constantly described as a Jew and is one of the most repulsive Jewish characters in literature, it was not Dickens' intent to cast slurs upon Jewish people. He wrote in good faith and was troubled later, after becoming friends with Eliza Davis, the wife of the Jewish banker he sold his London house to, by the way he had portrayed Fagin. Eliza wrote to him in 1863 that she considered the way Dickens had portrayed Fagin a great wrong to the Jewish people. Dickens started to revise Oliver Twist, removing over 180 instances of the word "Jew" from the first edition text. He also ommitted sterotypical caricature from his public readings of Oliver Twist and a contemporary report noted, "There is no nasal intonation; a bent back but no shoulder-shrug: the conventional attributes are omitted." Dickens was finally able to write to Eliza, "There is nothing but good will left between me and a People for whom I have a real regard and to whom I would not willfully have given an offence." Fagin might still give offense to those looking for it, but personally I have always seen him as an example of a bad man, not a Jewish man, and I believe that is how Dickens meant to portray him.

I’ve been wanting to get back to rereading this classic for some time, so the summer provided me opportunity, along with this one being chosen as a monthly read in one of my reading groups. It’s interesting that when you read a book for the second time you catch things, nuances that you missed upon reading the first time. Oliver Twist, obviously a well-known title, needs little introduction. But what is striking is how Dickens’ tale is several things at once. It has a fairy tale quality to it, with some dark elements thrown in as well (i.e., there is a pretty brutal murder scene and another bizarre death scene). It is also a “rags to riches” sort of tale (with “rich” not being necessarily in the monetary form). Likewise, It is also a coming-of-age children’s novel with Dickens’ sentimentality. Moreover, the novel also forms a social commentary and criticism about the conditions taking place in Dickens’ time. Upon my second reading, I thought it was a very entertaining and enchanting story, something Dickens seems to always pull off. Dickens captures eloquently the spirit of a young orphan boy who tries to overcome the many setbacks, heartbreaks, harsh elements, and trials that are thrown at him in his young life. Through the story’s narrative, Oliver meets many types of people, friends and foes, virtuous and malevolent, and must navigate his way in the world. Oliver Twist has many of the Dickens’ staples that make a worthy and heartfelt tale and a classic. One of the definitive characters I love about reading a Dickens novel is the cliffhanger type endings in chapters, revealing something interesting at the end of the chapter to pique the reader’s anticipation of what is to come. As per usual with Dickens, there are a bevy of eccentric and interesting characters (some infamously so). It’s not surprising that the popularity of this novel has spawned countless adaptations in various forms, from film, stage plays, musicals, etc. Definitely a novel for Dickens or classic literature aficionados to read.

Amei o produto!! Foi entregue direitinho!!

Best classic novel by Charles Dickens!!! Amazing plot and good characters

SIX Stars or more, the story draws on genius. The Victorian era! This was a horrible time in English history when the so called Upper-class (and those who thought they were) walked all over the poor. It was in such a time as this that a young feeble woman gave birth to a baby and then died. The child was counted as an orphan and a pauper and therefore a matter for distain and neglect. No one cared what became of him. He received the barest of care, just enough to keep him alive, and for what? To be used and abused by all who should have been his protectors. This child is given his name without love or thought but mealy through an alphabet system devised for such births. He was in the O's for his first name, so received Oliver, and in the T's for his surname, so given the name of Twist. Oliver entered the work house at the age of seven to work long hours with little food and much abuse and ridicule. Cruelty to such children was used for amusement by those in charge of them. Many children died as they had lived, without knowing any love or nurturing. And no one cared. The story takes you on a journey of such hardship that you will be unable to fathom how such evil was allowed. Yet good times do come and when they do, the reader feels that at last there is some justice in the world. This is a classic novel of those times written with very descriptive language. Some of which used by the poor was atrocious. One such manner of speech is the Headline I have used for the review... often said almost as an oath to prove reality.

I got the Everyman’s Library Hardcover copy of the book. It really is something special. The novel itself is, well what can I say? It’s a classic. If you can get this novel at the sale price, I highly recommend it; the quality is just amazing. Things that were done well: - the font size and style; makes it easy to read and Cohesive - binding of the book is perfect Lives up to the Everyman’s Library standard. Things I like: - the chronology of the author - the introduction; gives great insight into the novel What I don’t like: - the ribbon bookmark; it is not tied at the end, so with frequent use or just normal use, it will start unraveling which is unfortunate. Overall thoughts on this publisher: If you love this story or you want an edition that will last for generations, pick this up. Everyman’s Library just does a wonderful job at making timepieces. Seriously, there was a lot of time and energy into thinking about all the little details that really makes all of the difference - colour coding of the cloth that the book is bound in, - the spine of the books all line up, with or without the jacket on - edges and paper are uniform - good size to hold with one hand for reading and for travelling too

Known around the world as a worthy classic, this venerable old volume still has the magic, even in this day and age, to transport the reader back to that rich world which Dickens portrays. Having enjoyed this book in a more child friendly format many years ago, I have enjoyed this version just as much. The message still holds true: life is harsh for those who have none to care for them and they often fall into vice or criminal activities to get by. But if those who are destitute are only treated with kindness at critical times...who knows how much better the world would be? With agreeable satire and a poke at authorities who do not conduct themselves properly, along with a touching ending, it is a book I would recommend to anyone. Despite its age, dated society norms (for example that women are frail, fluttering or fainting at the drop of a hat) and occasionally confusing words from yore, it is an engaging read: you end up cheering on the kind Mr. Brownlow, and booing the likes of Fagin and Sikes. A cracking good read.