"Oliver Twist" (1839) by Charles Dickens is a novel about an orphan boy, who starts his life in a workhouse and is then sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to London, where he meets the Artful Dodger, a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal, Fagin. Oliver Twist is notable for its unromantic portrayal by Dickens of criminals and their sordid lives, as well as for exposing the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century.

In this early example of the social novel, Dickens satirizes the hypocrisies of his time, including child labor, the recruitment of children as criminals, and the presence of street children. The novel may have been inspired by the story of Robert Blincoe, an orphan whose account of working as a child laborer in a cotton mill was widely read in the 1830s. It is likely that Dickens’ own youthful experiences contributed as well.

Listening Length

16 hours and 40 minutes
Author

Charles Dickens
Narrator

Steven Green
Audible release date

February 28, 2019
Language

English
Publisher

Audioliterature
ASIN

B07NZX18CT
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	16 hours and 40 minutes
Author	Charles Dickens
Narrator	Steven Green
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	February 28, 2019
Publisher	Audioliterature
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07NZX18CT
Best Sellers Rank	#136,603 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #4,089 in Classic Literature (Audible Books & Originals) #16,583 in Classic Literature & Fiction

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Amazon Customer

Not the actual text of Oliver Twist. It’s a Non-English translation.

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2020

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I tried to read this edition for a few chapters thinking that Dickens was just writing in some weird London dialect. By the beginning of chapter 3 it became apparent that this book was translated from another language, apparently using Google translate. The first photo is the edition I’m rating, whereas the second is the Amazon edition. The only reason there would be nonsense synonyms in the blue highlighted section is because it was translated from a non-English edition.

I attempted to return this book but it seems to be outside Amazon’s timeframe. I would still like to return this book without refund because the edition should be pulled from Amazon’s digital shelves.

33 people found this helpful

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Bilbo Fredericks

My go-to when my kids complain about dinner

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019

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If my kids don't like what's on the table, I simply point out that Oliver Twist would eat the whole thing, ask for more, and get it without so much as a thought about assault by soup ladle. So far it hasn't worked, but I'm thinking that a more immersive old-timey London experience might do the trick. Therefore, I've started a chimney sweeping business to make use of their tiny stature and instill some of that good old fashioned work ethic and gratitude.

Please sir, may I have some more.

22 people found this helpful

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L. Waters

kindle edition is terrible

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017

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Kindle edition
Is written like this with lots of words on one line then
two words
on next line then on and on and on making it difficult to read
I would
Not buy this again and I wish I could get my money back.

45 people found this helpful

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NYteacher

Introduction to the Classics

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2016

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Read this aloud to low-performing fifth graders in an afterschool academic intervention class. They loved it, shared it with others, read it on their own, and were ready to read other Illustrated Classics from our shelves. Some argue that those who read these simpler versions will never read the original books. This may be true, but not necessarily. What I noticed, besides the cheers for our receipt of this additional copy was how surprised and thrilled the students were when they noticed allusions in other books to lines such as, "Please, sir, may I have more?" and similar character names used in other books for kids. What I really DON'T like in these books is the illustrator! The drawings are crude woodcuts. Why? Anyway, the student were amused that I didn't like them, and they therefore felt free to express their opinions about Oliver Twist. Every one of them looked forward to hearing the next chapter, groaned over every new cliffhanger, and hoped to get a copy in their own hands.

25 people found this helpful

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Headly

Pleas sir...May I have some more?

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020

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Have not read this 18th century tome in a long while but still it brings back all the overly sweet disposition of young Oliver and the dastardly machinations of Fagin and his crowd. The book is full of middle English phrases that leave the reader wondering what on earth Mr Dickens wanted to say. Words such as Cupidity and Opprobrious will have us running to the dictionary time and again. Mr Dickens loves to draw out attention to the nastiest parts of old England where the theft of a crust of bread could have you thrown into a workhouse, or worse. Also every paragraph seems find someone in tears...years of joy, sorrow, remembrance or some stay thought will bring about the breaking of the waterworks. But it's a classic read everyone needs to experience. I find it humorous that the language of the lowlife , and all the other characters ( for the most part) sounds more like Harvard English majors having a discussion...so very formal. Oliver Twist..... nice kid but easily seduced.

4 people found this helpful

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Donald E

I did not find them complicated but very refreshing reading and much above a lot of the garbage of modern writers

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2017

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It is a well constructed tale literally wise. It gives insight in the common speech and language of the English People in Dicken's time. It brings to remembrance words I have not heard for several years. I started reading Dickens after reading an article about his works being dropped from College Courses as they were too complicated for modern readers. I did not find them complicated but very refreshing reading and much above a lot of the garbage of modern writers.

13 people found this helpful

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Timothy M. Moran

I haven't read it

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020

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I haven't actually had the time to read Oliver Twist, but I've heard this Dickens fellow is a pretty decent writer. And folks have thought highly enough of this work to convert it into plays and movies, so there is that. I have recently read Great Expectations by the same author, and he does seem to have a way with words, characters and plot. So I'm guessing that Oliver Twist is probably a very good read, and I look forward to getting to it. Another reason to give the novel an excellent review is the Kindle price, which if I recall, was 99 cents. At that price, even waifs like Oliver Twist could afford to give it a read.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

A good read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2020

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I'm very happy that I bought this book. It's great that I can share this wonderful story with children - my own son and the class I teach. I read it to my son, eight years old, and he said it was excellent. And for the price, one pound and forty nine pence, I have to agree.
I have to take one star off for a few things. The art is generally very good. A few.minor flaws with proportion and perspective. I don't count it a mistake that Oliver is drawn to look ridiculously sweet and innocent, because honestly that's pretty much how Sickens wrote him.
There are a few changes in the story. It's not necessarily a problem that they left out the Monks subplot and Oliver being the heir to a fortune. But it's a bit strange how they said that Cabin was under thirty (a, he wasn't, he was an old man, and b, that's weirdly specific) and said that Mr. Sowerberry threw Oliver out instead of him running away. Also, that Oliver quickly realised Fagin and his boys were thieves, when in fact he didn't.
The final problem is that this was obviously written by someone who didn't speak English as a first language. There are numerous minor English errors that any native speaker of English could have fixed immediately.
But even with all these flaws the book is still well worth buying, and I can recommend it. It's a competent retelling of a beautiful tale, with lovely pictures. Children everywhere will enjoy reading it.
Besides which, I'm planning on giving it to my class as an English test, to see if they can spot all the mistakes!

7 people found this helpful

Jasmine Tea

Perfect on Kindle; a Dickens classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2018

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Great story of course - being one of Charles Dickens' most famous characters (especially due to Lionel Bart's musical versions, on stage and film). If you're familiar with the film, you may notice the understandable artistic licence Lionel Bart took in simplifying the story. But I take that to be part of the fun of reading the original. Dickens was highly observant of Britain's class structure and the ease at which one could fall - something he knew from personal experience and put to great effect in this book. The fall from grace of Mr Bumble is tragic-comic (and quite cruel, proving the point).

The book is very much of its time, and although Dickens was acutely aware of poverty and class, he seemed to have a racial blind spot - still controversial to this day.

5 people found this helpful

CC Hogan

Poorly formatted

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2017

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Such a wonderful story, but sadly this particular edition has been poorly formatted. Many words are joined together and some of the punctuation is off. This feels like a badly scanned version that was not properly proofed after.

16 people found this helpful

Rosie Booker

Read the book.. don't rely on the film!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

The classic story of Oliver Twist. Terribly, even though I'm an English teacher I had never read this, but am a fan of the films. Well, the book is nothing like the film at all. There is so much more to this story that I had no idea about! It is surprisingly long but definitely worth a read to find out the full story! The film only deals with about 25% of the book!

3 people found this helpful

M. Dowden

Always Popular

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2018

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First appearing in Bentley’s Miscellany in serial form, between 1837-1839 this then appeared in book form in 1839. This was Dickens’s second novel, the first being of course The Pickwick Papers. This is probably the only book that fell into what was called Newgate Novels that is still regularly read today, although as Dickens wanted to distance himself from allegations that such novels romanticised and increased crime, so this has other elements as well, such as satire and a realistic look at society at the time.

For most people, even if they have never read this before they will recognise a number of the characters, such as Oliver himself, Fagin, Artful Dodger, Bill Sikes, Nancy, the dog Bull’s Eye, and of course the beadle Mr Bumble. The story of course follows the character of the title, as we read of Oliver being born, how he got his name, and how he was given birth to in a workhouse. Taking in the conditions in such institutions and the baby farming that went on, along with the abuse of the system, so we can easily see that young Twist’s life is not an easy one.

As he grows so we read of trying to get him away from the workhouse by apprenticing him, and then his running away to London, where he falls in with certain characters of the underworld. There is certainly a lot of incident here as we read of plots against our hapless main character and the mystery surrounding his mother. Thus falling between those who are moral and those who are immoral so we see the machinations carried out by the latter to keep him on the path of criminalisation for devious purposes.

Taking in the inequalities of the period and the hypocrisy as well as greed of others, although we do see with the likes of the Artful Dodger certain characters of the criminal fraternity glamourizing their deeds, we also see what ends can be awaiting them. This book has always been a popular read, and for many of us this is something that we often come back to, and if this is the first time you are going to read this then prepare to be impressed as you get caught up in the whole tale, although nowadays I should warn you that some of the scenes are a bit oversentimental.

One person found this helpful

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