Thisfiercelycomictalestandsinmarkedcontrasttoitsgenialpredecessor,ThePickwickPapers.SetagainstLondon’sseedybackstreetslums,OliverTwististhesagaofaworkhouseorphancapturedandthrustintoathieves’den,wheresomeofDickens’smostdepravedvillainspreside:theincorrigibleArtfulDodger,themurderousbullySikes,andtheterribleFagin,thattreacherousringleaderwhosegrinningknaverythreatenstosendthemalltothe“ghostlygallows.“YetattheheartofthisdramaistheorphanOliver,whoseunsulliedgoodnessleadshimatlasttosalvation.In1838thepublicationofOliverTwistfirmlyestablishedtheliteraryeminenceofyoungDickens.Itwas,accordingtoEdgarJohnson,“aclarionpealannouncingtotheworldthatinCharlesDickenstherejectedandforgottenandmisusedoftheworldhadachampion.“
