Probably the best-known of all Dickens' works, Oliver Twist was originally published as a serial, and sought to bring the public's attention to various contemporary social evils, including the workhouse, child labour and the recruitment of children as criminals.The novel is full of drama, sarcasm and dark humour even as it reveals the hypocrisies of the time.

Charles Dickens wurde am 7. Februar 1812 in Landport bei Portsmouth (Hampshire) geboren. Er war das zweite von acht Kindern von John Dickens (1786–1851), einem mittellosen Marineschreiber im Navy Pay Office in Portsmouth, und seiner Frau Elizabeth (geb. Barrow, 1789–1863).