2010 Bookshelf: Oliver Twist

In my feeble attempts to be culturally literate, I try to read on occasion books written by now-dead British authors. My most recent foray into this attempt found me reading Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist". I started this book over the Christmas holiday, and just finished it a few nights ago. It's rare that it takes me close to 3 months to finish a novel...but to my defense, this wasn't the easiest read.

Oliver Twist is the classic tale (published in 1837) of a poor orphan boy in London who, through no fault of his own, gets wrapped up with a gang of thieves. The story follows Oliver as he escapes this life, and instead falls in with people who take pity on him. The touching part of the story is how, in the midst of all the rotten stuff Oliver goes through, he maintains a sense of purity and goodness. The book is also a bit of a social commentary on the way in which England treated its poor during the mid-1800's.

There is a surprise to the end of the story, as well as some humorous turns of events along the way. I found the first and last third of the book to move the fastest...the middle third was a bit slow, so perhaps that's why it took me so long to get through it. Also, as with any classical literature, the language and manner of speech used by the authors and characters is not how people really talk nowadays (Plus Dickens wrote very long sentences. It's as though the man loved the semicolon but avoided using the period.) But, I do like reading this kind of stuff because I feel like it's good exercise for my brain.

A classic line from the story:

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, baisn and spoon in hand, said:
"Please sir, I want some more."
The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralyzed with wonder; the boys with fear.
"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.
"Please sir," replied Oliver. "I want some more."
The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arms; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.
The board were sitting in a solemn conclave, when Mr. Bumble [the beadle] rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said,
"Mr. Lumpkins, I beg your pardon sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!"
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
"For more!" said Mr. Lumpkins. "Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?"
"He did, sir, " replied Bumble.
"That boy will be hung, " said the gentleman in the white waistcoast. "I know that boy will be hung."

Fortunately, the story ends well, and Oliver is not hung.