Books

Philadelphia: Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 1837. Full Description: [DICKENS, Charles]. Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress. By Boz. With Other Tales and Sketches, from Bentley's Miscellany, and the Library of Fiction. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 1837. First appearance of any part of Oliver Twist in America. The first two chapters of Oliver Twist, followed by twelve other pieces including Handy Andy, The Spectre of Tappington, The Wide Aware Club, The Abbess and the Duchess, Edward Saville, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Richie Barter, Authors and Actors, Plunder Creek, Recollections of Childhood. One of 2,000 copies. Small octavo (7 1/8 x 4 1/4 inches; 182 x 110 mm). [1]-186, [2, advertisements] pp. This is volume one of a presumed 2 volume set. According to Smith "The first two chapters of Oliver Twist, which is the only piece in the volume by Dickens, runs from pp (5)-22. This two-volume edition of 2,000 copies... was published on April 15, 1837." (Smith, page…

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.