Oliver Twist

Novelist's Biography:

Charles Dickens was a British novelist and social critic born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. He was the second of eight children in his family and grew up in poverty, which heavily influenced his writing. His father was imprisoned for debt, and Dickens was forced to work in a factory at the age of 12 to support his family.

Despite his lack of formal education, Dickens became a successful journalist, publishing his first story in the Monthly Magazine when he was just 21 years old. He later began writing novels, including "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield," "Great Expectations," and "A Tale of Two Cities," which are considered some of the greatest works of English literature.

Dickens's writing often focused on social injustice, poverty, and class struggles, and he used his stories to advocate for reform and change in Victorian England. He was also a public speaker and traveled extensively, giving lectures on various social issues.

Dickens was married to Catherine Hogarth, and they had ten children together. However, their marriage was strained, and they eventually separated. Dickens later became involved with actress Ellen Ternan, which caused scandal and controversy.

Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870, of a stroke at the age of 58. His works continue to be widely read and studied, and his legacy as one of the most influential writers in English literature remains strong to this day.

Synopsis:

"Oliver Twist" is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1838. The story follows the life of a young orphan boy named Oliver Twist, who grows up in poverty and desperation in 19th-century London. After enduring a harsh upbringing in a workhouse and being mistreated by his caretakers, Oliver runs away to London and becomes involved with a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the criminal Fagin. Oliver is eventually rescued by a kindly gentleman named Mr. Brownlow, but is pursued by the malicious Bill Sikes and his lover, Nancy, who are determined to silence Oliver and prevent him from revealing their crimes. The novel is a social commentary on the harsh realities of poverty, crime, and injustice in Victorian England, and remains one of Dickens' most popular works.