Books

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. [Classic Literature] FIRST ONE-VOLUME EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] xii; 311 [3]. With 24 engraved plates by Cruikshank. Contemporary deep red (nearly brown) half morocco over marbled paper-covered sides, with gilt titles and gilt rules to spine. Bookplate of James Sheppard Scott of Kensington, armorial bookplate of B.M. Fox-Watkins together with Dickens Centenary postage stamp. Contents toned to edges, plated browned as expected, vintage pencil note regarding the preface to first blank, joints and sides rubbed, headcap chipped. Very good. Dickens' classic second novel first published as a triple-decker in 1838, one year after 'The Pickwick Papers', which had publicised the various hypocrisies and contemporary social evils, including the workhouse, child labour and the recruitment of children as criminals. Full of greed and corruption, sarcasm and dark humour, 'Oliver Twist' featured a host of immortal characters including Fagin, Bill Sikes, The…

Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy's Progress is Charles Dickens's second novel, and was first published as a serial from 1837 to 1839. The story centers on orphan Oliver Twist, born in a workhouse and sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the 'Artful Dodger', a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin.