Lit2Go

Oliver Twist

by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist is Charles Dickens' second novel. It is about a boy named Oliver Twist, who escapes from a workhouse and meets a gang of pickpockets in London. The novel is one of Dickens's most well-known works, and has been the subject of numerous film and television adaptations.

Source: Dickens, C. (1838). Oliver Twist.London, England; Bentley's Miscellany.

Chapter 1: Treats of the Place Where Oliver Twist was Born and of the Circumstances Attending His Birth.
Oliver is born into less than optimum conditions.
Chapter 2: Treats of Oliver Twist's Growth, Education, and Board.
Having been orphaned at childbirth, young Oliver is left in the care of Mrs. Mann. Mr. Bumble arrives to take Oliver to slightly more hospitable surroundings. After losing a bet, Oliver makes an unusual request.
Chapter 3: Relates How Oliver Twist was Very Near Getting a Place Which Would Not Have Been a Sinecure.
Oliver, having been punished for his behavior, begs to stay at the workhouse rather than go with Mr. Gamfield.
Chapter 4: Oliver, Being Offered Another Place, Makes His First Entry Into Public Life.
Mr. Sowerberry decides to take Oliver on as his apprentice.
Chapter 5: Oliver Mingles With New Associates. Going to a Funeral for the First Time, He Forms an Unfavourable Notion of His Master's Business.
Oliver witnesses a funeral and decides the undertaking business may not be for him.
Chapter 6: Oliver, Being Goaded by the Taunts of Noah, Rouses into Action, and Rather Astonishes Him.
A sudden epidemic provides Oliver with the opportunity to advance. Confronted by taunts from Noah, Oliver's rage gets the best of him.
Chapter 7: Oliver Continues Refractory
Noah tells Mr. Bumble of the previous evening's incident. Mr. Sowerberry's continued persecution forces Oliver to take drastic action.
Chapter 8: Oliver Walks to London. He Encounters on the Road a Strange Sort of Young Gentleman.
Outside of London, Oliver becomes acquainted with Jack Dawkins. Oliver is taken to London to meet Fagin.
Chapter 9: Containing Further Particulars Concerning the Pleasant Old Gentleman, and His Hopeful Pupils.
Oliver begins his apprenticeship under Fagin.
Chapter 10: Oliver Becomes Better Acquainted with the Characters of His New Associates; And Purchases Experiences at a High Price. Being a Short, But Very Important Chapter, In This History.
After going to "work" with Charley and Jack, Oliver starts to understand the true nature of Fagin's dealings. Oliver finds himself the victim of false accusations.
Chapter 11: Treats of Mr. Fang the Police Magistrate; And Furnishes a Slight Specimen of His Mode of Administering Justice.
Oliver is taken to jail to await his appearance before Mr. Fang. The courtroom drama plays out while Mr. Brownlow begins to takes pity upon poor Oliver.
Chapter 12: In Which Oliver is Taken Better Care of than He Ever Was Before. And In Which the Narrative Reverts to the Merry Old Gentleman and His Youthful Friends.
Oliver awakens in the care of Mrs. Bedwin, Mr. Brownlow's housekeeper. Oliver is greatly affected by a portrait in Mr. Brownlow's home.
Chapter 13: Some New Acquaintances are Introduced to the Intelligent Reader, Connected With Whom Various Pleasant Matters Are Related , Appertaining to this History.
Fagin is angered by Oliver's sudden absence, fearing that he will reveal the nature of his operation to authorities. At Fagin's insistence, Jack, Charley, and Nancy travel to Pentonville.
Chapter 14: Comprising Further Particulars of Oliver's Stay at Mr. Brownlow's, With the Remarkable Prediction Which One Mr. Grimwig Uttered Concerning Him, When He Went Out On An Errand.
Oliver, fearing he will be asked to leave the Brownlow home, requests a favor from Mr. Brownlow. Oliver is sent to run an errand.
Chapter 15: Showing How Very Fond of Oliver Twist, The Merry Old Jew and Miss Nancy Were.
While running an errand for Mr. Brownlow, Oliver runs into Nancy and Bill Sikes.
Chapter 16: Relates What Became of Oliver Twist, After he had Been Claimed By Nancy.
Oliver finds himself back at Fagin's house, where Nancy prevents Oliver from further punishment.
Chapter 17: Oliver's Destiny Continuing Unpropitious, Brings a Great Man to London to Injure His Reputation.
Mr. Brownlow offers a reward for Oliver's return, prompting Mr. Bumble to pay a visit to the Brownlow estate.
Chapter 18: How Oliver Passed His Time in the Improving Society of His Reputable Friends.
Fagin ensures that Oliver lives a solitary life, by keeping him separate from the other boys.
Chapter 19: In Which a Notable Plan is Discussed and Determined On
Oliver is volunteered for a job with Bill Sikes. Fagin, remembering an earlier incident, keeps his eye on Nancy.
Chapter 20: Wherein Oliver is Delivered Over to Mr. William Sikes.
Oliver and Nancy proceed to Bill Sikes' house. Sikes gives a stern warning to Oliver.
Chapter 21: The Expedition.
Oliver and Sikes journey to the town of Shepperton, arriving after dark.
Chapter 22: The Burglary.
Bill Sikes takes Oliver to meet Toby Crackit and Barney. Oliver is sent into the house, but things do not go as planned.
Chapter 23: Which Contains the Substance of a Pleasant Conversation Between Mr. Bumble and a Lady; And Shows That Even a Beadle May Be Susceptible on Some Points.
Mr. Bumble pays a visit to Mrs. Corney at the workhouse.
Chapter 24: Treats on a Very Poor Subject. But is a Short One, and May be Found of Importance in this History.
Old Sally makes a death-bed confession to Mrs. Corney concerning Oliver's mother.
Chapter 25: Wherein This History Reverts to Mr. Fagin and Company.
Crackit arrives at Fagin's and informs him that the robbery has failed and Oliver has been shot.
Chapter 26: In Which a Mysterious Character Appears Upon the Scene; And many Things, Inseparable From This History, Are Done and Performed.
Fagin and Monks discuss Oliver's future.
Chapter 27: Atones for the Unpoliteness of a Former Chapter; Which Deserted a Lady, Most Unceremoniously.
Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney discuss the possibility of a future together.
Chapter 28: Looks After Oliver, And Proceeds with His Adventures.
Oliver, delirious and alone, seeks assistance after the failed robbery. Brittles is sent to fetch a doctor as well as the authorities.
Chapter 29: Has an Introductory Account of the Inmates of the House, To Which Oliver Resorted.
Mr. Losberne tends to Oliver's wounds, while Mrs. Maylie and Miss Rose prepare to meet injured thief.
Chapter 30: Relates What Oliver's New Visitors Thought of Him.
Miss Rose, surprised by the age of the would be burglar, begs Mrs. Maylie not to send the boy to prison. Summoned by Brittles, police officers from London arrive to sort things out.
Chapter 31: Involves a Critical Position.
With the police having arrived to assess the situation, Miss Rose and the surgeon attempt to protect Oliver from being connected with the burglary.
Chapter 32: Of the Happy Life Oliver Began to Lead with His Kind Friends.
Oliver slowly recovers from his wounds. Mr. Losberne and Oliver travel to London. Oliver continues to bond with Mrs. Maylie and Mis Rose.
Chapter 33: Wherein the Happiness of Oliver and His Friends, Experiences a Sudden Check.
When Rose's health suddenly declines, Oliver is sent to summon Dr. Losberne.
Chapter 34: Contains Some Introductory Particulars Relative to a Young Gentleman Who Now Arrives Upon the Scene; And a New Adventure Which Happened to Oliver.
Miss Rose receives visitors, one of which declares his love for her is solid and lasting. Oliver awakens from a nightmare to see familiar faces.
Chapter 35: Containing the Unsatisfactory Result of Oliver's Adventure; And a Conversation of Some Importance Between Harry Maylie and Rose.
Harry and Giles rush to the aid of Oliver. Harry and Rose discuss their feelings for each other.
Chapter 36: Is a Very Short One, and May Appear of No Great Importance in Its Place, But it Should Be Read Notwithstanding, As a Sequel to the Last, and a Key to One That Will Follow When Its Time Arrives.
As Harry prepares to leave, he asks a favor of Oliver.
Chapter 37: In Which the Reader May Perceive a Contrast, Not Uncommon in Matrimonial Cases.
Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney find their plans fulfilled, although not everyone is entirely satisfied with the current situation. Monks questions Mr. Bumble about Old Sally.
Chapter 38: Containing an Account of What Passed Between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Mr. Monks, at Their Nocturnal Interview.
Mr. and Mrs. Bumble meet with Monks.
Chapter 39: Introduces Some Respectable Characters With Whom the Reader is Already Acquainted, and Shows How Monks and the Jew Laid Their Worthy Heads Together.
Nancy overhears a conversation between Monks and Fagin, prompting her to pay a visit to Mrs. Maylie.
Chapter 40: A Strange Interview, Which is a Sequel to the Last Chamber.
Nancy confesses her guilt in Oliver's disappearance before telling Rose the full content of Monk and Fagin's conversation.
Chapter 41: Containing Fresh Discoveries, and Showing that Surprises, Like Misfortunes, Seldom Come Alone.
Oliver is once again taken to see Mr. Brownlow. Mr. Brownlow and Miss Rose tell Nancy's story to Mrs. Maylie and Mr. Losberne.
Chapter 42: An Old Acquaintance of Oliver's, Exhibiting Decided marks of Genius, Becoming a Public Character in the Metropolis.
Noah and Charlotte, set to leave for London, encounter Fagin and Barney at the Three Cripples Inn.
Chapter 43: Wherein is Shown How the Artful Dodger Got Into Trouble.
Noah meets with Fagin and is given his first job.
Chapter 44: The Time Arrives for Nancy to Redeem Her Pledge to Rose Maylie. She Fails.
Fagin watches Nancy closely, hoping to blackmail her with any information he discovers.
Chapter 45: Noah Claypole is Employed by Fagin on a Secret Mission.
Fagin employs Noah to keep an eye on Nancy.
Chapter 46: The Appointment Kept.
Noah observes Nancy's meeting with Mr. Brownlow and Rose. Mr. Brownlow is affected by Nancy's description of Monks.
Chapter 47: Fatal Consequences.
Noah and Fagin tell Sikes the details of Nancy's meeting with Rose and Brownlow.
Chapter 48: The Flight of Sikes.
Sikes attempts to flee London following the murder of Nancy.
Chapter 49: Monks and Mr. Brownlow at Length Meet. Their Conversation, and the Intelligence that Interrupts It.
Monks is captured and brought to Mr. Brownlow's home. Details of Monks' life are finally revealed. The search for Mr. Sikes continues.
Chapter 50: The Pursuit and Escape.
Noah and Fagin's capture prompts Toby Crackit and Tom Chitling to hide out. Sikes' arrival at the hiding place causes an unexpected uproar.
Chapter 51: Affording and Explanation of More Mysteries than One, and Comprehending a Proposal of Marriage with No Word of Settlement of Pin-Money.
Oliver and his friends travel to meet Mr. Grimwig. Monks reveals more information about himself and Oliver. Rose finally agrees to marry Harry.
Chapter 52: Fagin's Last Night Alive.
Mr. Brownlow and Oliver pay a last visit to the ill-fated Fagin.
Chapter 53: And Last.
Oliver receives a share of what is his, while Monks comes to a fitting end. Mr. Brownlow, now legal guardian of Oliver, Mr. Losberne, and Mr. Grimwig stay close to Oliver's new family.
  • Year Published: 1838
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: England
  • Readability:
    • Flesch–Kincaid Level: 8.1
  • Word Count: 171,479
  • Genre: Realism
  • Keywords: 19th century literature, british literature, charles dickens, oliver twist
  • ✎ Cite This
  • Share |
  • Available on iTunes U