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Introduction
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is considered one of the greatest writers in the English language. He is most famous for his vivid characters and his criticism of the injustices of society. Among his best-known works are Great Expectations, David Copperfteld, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Nicholas Nickleby and A Christmas Carol.
Dickens' own experiences influenced his novels. His early childhood was happy. He spent a lot of time outdoors and loved to read. However, Dickens' father went deeply into debt, and as a result was sent to the debtor's prison, a common practice at the time. At the age of twelve young Charles went to work in a factory to help support his family. His job was pasting labels onto jars of polish. These experiences gave Dickens understanding and sympathy for the working poor. Later, in his novels, he tried to draw attention to their suffering.
When he was older Dickens began work as a law clerk, but he disliked lawyers too much to have a career in the law. Instead, he became a journalist in his early twenties. Through this work he became a writer and published his first book when he was twenty-four. He also married and had ten children.
Oliver Twist was Dickens' second novel. He wrote it to draw attention to the social evils and injustices of his time, such as poverty, hypocrisy, and greed. Oliver is a penniless orphan in 1830s England. How he is treated by various people reveals a lot about his society. He is frequently mistreated by those who are only interested in their own gain. However, other people show Oliver kindness and compassion. Through the lives of his characters, Dickens shows the importance of love towards one's fellow man, whether rich or poor.
Oliver Twist has inspired a lot of film and television adaptations the earliest of which was a silent film back in 1909. A very successful British musical, Oliver!, has also been based on the book.