Charles Dickens's unsentimental and poignant portrayal of London in the early 1800s is simultaneously an uplifting tale and a violent narrative of corruption, degradation, and greed. The orphaned Oliver is trapped in a miserable existence where his only options seem to be the workhouse, a life of crime, prison, or an early death. After being expelled from the workhouse, he secures a position as an apprentice to an undertaker, but a brawl forces him to flee, leading him into the clutches of the notorious criminal Fagin. Oliver Twist achieved great success when it was published in 1838, and has since continued to captivate generations in its various adaptations. Through Oliver's life and fate, Dickens exposes many dark aspects of Industrial-era England, particularly the often inhumane conditions of the impoverished population. This edition contains all of George Cruikshank's original illustrations.   CHARLES DICKENS [1812–1870] was one of the most celebrated novelists of the Victorian era, renowned for his vivid characters, keen social insight, and masterful storytelling. His works – including Oliver Twist [1838], A Christmas Carol [1843], David Copperfield [1850], and Great Expectations [1861] – captured the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people during a time of immense change. Dickens helped shape the development of the modern novel and remains one of the most influential writers in English literature.