Oliver Twist

Interesting Facts

• Oliver Twist became one of the first literary characters whose life was depicted from birth to adulthood.
• The book was one of the first to openly criticize social institutions and the living conditions of the poor in 19th-century London.
• The character of Fagin, the Jewish mentor of thieves, sparked much controversy and accusations of anti-Semitism, leading to changes in the portrayal of this character in subsequent adaptations.
• The story of Oliver Twist was first published as a serial in the magazine «Bentley's Miscellany» from 1837 to 1839.
• The book made a significant contribution to the development of the social novel genre, being one of the first to focus on the lives of the poor and destitute.