Oliver Twist By Charles Dickens

A gripping portrayal of London’s dark criminal underbelly. The story of Oliver Twist – orphaned, and set upon by evil and adversity from his first breath – shocked readers when it was published. After running away from the workhouse and pompous beadle Mr Bumble, Oliver finds himself lured into a den of thieves peopled by vivid and memorable characters – the Artful Dodger, vicious burglar Bill Sikes, his dog Bull’s Eye, and prostitute Nancy, all watched over by cunning master-thief Fagin. Combining elements of Gothic Romance, the Newgate Novel and popular melodrama, Dickens created an entirely new kind of fiction, scathing in its indictment of a cruel society, and pervaded by an unforgettable sense of threat and mystery. Bound in red cloth with gilt titling to spine. A little sun bleaching to top of front board. Good dustjacket with a little creasing and a few tiny tears along the top and spine area. Signed by the original owner in pencil at the top of the first page. Frontispiece with an illustration of Charles Dickens. Some slight tanning to edges. Overall in very good condition. Hardcover. Published by Collins Clear-Type Press, undated but estimated to be late 1950s