Charles Dickens

‘The image of little Oliver Twist victimised by poverty, almost seduced by the specious excitement of crime, and then offered the possibility of a lucrative career in authorship is always compelling’ GuardianOliver is an orphan living on the dangerous London streets with no one but himself to rely on. Fleeing from poverty and hardship, he falls in with a criminal street gang who will not let him go, however hard he tries to escape. In Oliver Twist, Dickens graphically conjures up the capital's underworld, full of prostitutes, thieves and lost and homeless children, and gives a voice to the disadvantaged and abused.

The Uncommercial Traveller is a collection of Dickens' early literary sketches and reminiscences. Originally published as separate articles in a journal founded by the author in 1859, they were compiled into a single volume in 1861, and the collection was added to sporadically over subsequent years. These essays see Dickens adopt the persona of the 'Uncommercial Traveller', an explorer and investigator, something which sat well with his own great love of travel. Through these eyes he observed the hidden sides of Victorian London, particularly life in the dockland districts which he frequented during his insomnia-induced night-time wanderings, showing early displays of the wit and humour that were to become so characteristic of his literary style. His concern for the poor and oppressed, which would also become an enduring theme throughout many of his later novels, was here given early expression, particularly in such articles as 'Wapping Workhouse' and 'Titbull's Alms-Houses'.

This darkly satiric indictment of the social ills of Victorian London tells the story of a young orphan who becomes involved with a gang of criminals. Oliver is a poor orphan living in 19th century London. Through a series of accidental events, he finds himself caught up with a gang of criminals, including such memorable characters as the Artful Dodger, Fagin, and Bill Sykes. The story centers around Oliver's inheritance, and is an indictment of the British Poor Laws, which allowed for the proliferation of such social evils as workhouses and child labor. As with many of Dickens's other novels, Oliver Twist is a darkly comic narrative whose sarcastic tone brings into sharp relief the social hypocrisy of the day. This edition includes: -A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information -A chronology of the author's life and work -A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context -An outline of key themes and plot points to guide the reader's own interpretations -Detailed explanatory notes -Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work -Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction -A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world¼s finest books to their full potential.

An acclaimed dramatisation of Dickens' well-loved Christmas story - more faithful to the original than any other published version, and making skilful use of traditional carols to underscore the action. Karen Louise Hebden's stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol was first staged at Derby Playhouse in 2003, directed by Stephen Edwards with Ben Roberts as Scrooge, breaking box office records with 98% paid attendance. Hebden's version was staged at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, in December 2005, and was revived at Derby Playhouse in 2006. It has subsequently enjoyed over fifty amateur productions nationally as well as being the inaugural Christmas production at The Rose, Kingston, in December 2008.

Sketches of Young Gentlemen, like its counterpart, Sketches by Boz, is a series of miniature portraits of mid-nineteenth century England from the pen of perhaps its most famous writer. Sketches of a number of types of young gentlemen (the Bashful, the Very Friendly, the Political) are joined by sketches of young couples (the Contradictory, the Cool, the Egotistical) and a variety of other short narratives such as the 'Mudfrog Papers', of which Oliver Twist is a continuation, and 'Some Particulars Concerning a Lion.' Playing on the contemporary public fascination with moral rules and codes of behaviour, they are satirical caricatures, but also demonstrate Dickens' warmth towards humanity. Apparently written as serious advice for women about Victorian men, Dickens displays the ironic sense of humour that characterises much of his work.

The citizens of Charles Dickens' Coketown have entertained readers since the 19th century. In this adaptation of ""Hard Times"", Heidi Stillman brings these iconic characters to the stage, revealing the universality of their hopes and suffering in their times and in ours. Originally produced in the spring of 2001, ""Hard Times"" received a Joseph Jefferson Award for best production of a play.

Reissued to commemorate its 150th anniversary, this timeless novel details the people who were caught up in the wave of violence and murder that marked the French Revolution, including a young Englishman who gives up his life in order to save the husband of the woman he loves. Original.