Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003
Originally published 1839
466 pages
Classic; FITG
4/5 stars
Source: Own
This ends the month readalong of Oliver Twist, hosted by Allie at A Literary Odyssey. All of the threads introduced by Dickens are wrapped up and a very happy ending ensues. Oliver discovers his family, Rose and Harry can marry, friendship abounds, bad is punished. I do wonder if Oliver will get to meet children his own age; while the adults love him, it's not the same thing. Or is that idea a contemporary conception? I expect he'll be pretty happy just to be fed and loved rather than starved and driven through a life of crime.
Fagin, Sikes, and Dodger are all punished; the first two with death and the latter with transportation. At least I think that's Dodger's fate. It seems like that will be his ending but I didn't see it definitively stated (Did I skip over that part?)
The part I had been anticipating for the entire story was Nancy's death, the aftermath of which is particularly well-described. Sikes sat all night in the same room as her dead body until the sun starts pouring in and he comes to with the realization of what he's done. I found the description fantastic and this was one part where I didn't mind that Dickens was so verbose.
In conclusion, I'm very glad for this push to read this classic novel. I think it could definitely be recommended to Dickens newbies as it's very accessible, fairly fast-moving, and not filled with zillions of coincidences.
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Read for FITG Challenge.
I'm glad you enjoyed the novel as a whole, especially this last part. I believe Part 3 is the strongest portion of the novel.
ReplyDeleteI think it is assumed that the Dodger will be transported, but his story is kind of left hanging after he is convicted.
ReplyDeleteI loved the scene of him in the courtroom. It was so funny and typical of his character. :)
I was glad for the readalong too. I couldn't find the courage to pick it up on my own.
I imagined an alternative ending to Oliver Twist-at the last minute the sentence of Fagin is commuted to transportation for life to Botany Bay-he and 20 of his youthful gang members end up in all sorts of adventures there with Fagin owning his own bank and the Dodger married into an Aboriginal tribe!
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