Oliver Twist

par Charles Dickens


Chapter 1 he gallows:

Fagin the Jew is about to be hung. Lord Brownlow asks him whether he has anything to say in his defense. Fagin claims he is innocent, that Lord Brownlow is as guilty as he. Fagin tells the story.

Chapter 2 Lord Brownlow's house, ten years earlier

Agnes, Lord Brownlow's daughter, is pregnant but unmarried. Her father throws her out of the house, disowning her. She manages to walk as far as the workhouse where she is taken in by Mrs Corney and her maid Old Sally. The baby is born but Agnes dies before she can reveal her father's name. The beadle, Mr Bumble, is called to register the child. He gives the boy a name, Oliver Twist.

Chapter 3 On the road to London

Oliver grows up and is put to work building coffins in the workhouse; he is nine years old. The boys suffer terribly, they are cold and underfed. When one boy dies, Oliver finds the courage to ask for more to eat. He is beaten and locked up. That night Old Sally helps him to escape. She tells him that his mother's name was Agnes. Oliver, exhausted, falls asleep. The Artful Dodger sees him and picks his pocket. Oliver wakes up. They become friends and the Dodger takes Oliver to London.

Chapter 4 London

The Dodger and Oliver witness the hanging of little Joe, one of Fagin's boys. They then go "home" to Fagin's den. Fagin, The Artful Dodger and Charlie Bates teach Oliver how to theive; they take him out and together pick the pockets of a rich gentleman that happens to be Lord Brownlow while Oliver watches. Lord Brownlow realises that he is being robbed, the Dodger and Charlie escape but Oliver - who is innocent - is caught by the police. Brownlow feels sorry for Oliver and takes him home with him.

Chapter 5 Back at Fagin's

Fagin tries to make Bill Sikes go and "rescue" Oliver. Nancy says that Bill is too drunk and offers to go in his place with the Dodger.

Chapter 6

Lord Brownlow, in an attempt to show his confidence in Oliver's trustworthiness, sends him on an errand with a large sum of money and a valuable book. But while Oliver is out Nancy and the Dodger catch him and drag him back to Fagin's. Fagin wants to beat Oliver, but Nancy defends the boy. Fagin, distrusting Nancy, asks the Dodger to follow her.

Chapter 7

That night, Nancy creeps out and goes to Lord Brownlow's house. She tells Lord Brownlow that Oliver's mother was called Agnes and he realises that Oliver is his own grandson. She tells him to meet her the next evening on London Bridge and she will bring Oliver with her. She makes Brownlow promise that in return he will not turn the gang over to the police.

Chapter 8

The Dodger tells Fagin that Nancy has betrayed them and Fagin tells Bill Sikes, knowing the likely violent reaction that Sikes will have. Sikes kills Nancy. The police, alerted by Lord Borwnlow, raid Fagin's den. They kill Sikes as he tries to escape. The gang is arrested. Fagin is hanged for his crimes.