Works The Adventures Of Oliver Twist Author:Charles Dickens THE ADVENTURES OLIVER TWIST - BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE The Adventures of Oliver Twist was first published under the title of Oliver Twist or, Zb Parish Boys Progress, by Boz in three volumes in 1838. The title-page of the second issue of the first edition read simply Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. me story ran as a serial in t l p ag es of Bentley... more »s NisceZlany from January, 1837, to March, 1839, and was issued in ten monthly parts from January to October, 1846, when the present title was adopted. This Edition contai zs all the emendations made in the text as-revised by the Author in 1867 and 1868, and reproductions of the originat illustrations by George Cruikshank. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION, Some of the authors friends cried, Lookee, gentlemen, the man is a villain but it is Naturc for all that and the young critics of the age, the clerks, apprenticcs, etc., called it low, and fell a-groaning. - FIE INQ. THE greater part of this Tale was originally published in a magazine. When I completed it, and put it forth in its present form three years ago, I full expected it would be objected to on some very high moral grounds in some very high moral quarters. The result did not fail to prove the justice of my mticipations. I embrace the present opportunity of saying a few words in explanation of my aim and object in its production. It is in some sort a duty with me to do so, in gratitude to those who sympathised with me and divined my purpose at the time, and who, perhaps, will not be sorry to have their impression confirmed under my own hand It is, it seems, a very coarse and shocking circumstance, that some of the characters in these pages are chosen from the most criminal and degraded of Londons population that Sik6s is a thief, and Fagin a receiver of stolen goods that the boys are pick-pockets, and the girl is a prostitute. I confess I have yet to learn that a lesson of the purest good may not be drawn from the vilest evil. I have always believed this to be a recognised and established truth, laid down by the greatest men the world has ever seen, constantly vi PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION, 1841 acted upon by the best and wisest natures, and confirmed by the reason and experience of every thinking mind. I saw no reason, when I wrote this book, why the very dregs of life, so long as their speech did not offer d the ear, should not serve the purpose of a moral, at least as well as its froth and cream. Nor did I doubt that there lay festering in Saint Giless as aood materials towards the truth as any flaunting in Saint b Jamess. In this spirit, when I wished to show, in little Oliver, the principle of Good surviving through every adverse circumstance, and triumphing at last and when I considered among what companions I e ould try him best, having regard to that kind of men into whose hands he would nost naturally fall I bethought myself of those who figure in these volumes. When I came to discuss the subject more maturely with myself, I saw many strong reasons for pursuing the course to which I was inclined. I had read of thieves by scores-seductive fellows amiable for the most part, faultless in dress, plump in pocket, choice in horseflesh, bold in bearing, fortunate in gallantry, great at a song, a bottle, pack of cards or dice-box, and fit companions for the bravest. But I had never met except in Hogarth with the miserable reality...« less