Oliver Twist

a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1838. Oliver Twist, the hero, is a workhouse orphan. His life is hard and his prospects far from promising at the opening of the story; but in spite of his wretched environment he preserves his fine nature and at last finds friends who aid him to a successful career. The evils of the workhouse system as it existed at that time in England and the criminal side of London life are realistically portrayed. See Dickens