Oliver Twist is a Victorian era novel by author Charles Dickens. It is his second novel and is considered one of his most famous works. It follows the life of an orphaned boy named Oliver as he navigates through the cruel and poverty-stricken world of early 19th century London. The novel begins with Oliver being sent to a workhouse, a place with extremely poor living conditions. He escapes and eventually falls in with a group of street urchins led by the Artful Dodger. He is then adopted by a criminal ringleader, the infamous Fagin, who teaches him to steal and receive cash payments for his services. Throughout the novel, Oliver continues to encounter a number of characters – some helping him and some trying to take advantage of him. He is eventually taken in by a kindly old gentleman, Mr. Brownlow, who reveals that Oliver is, in fact, the heir to a large sum of money. At the same time, Fagin and the criminal ring go to desperate measures to get their hands on the money. After a series of suspenseful events, Oliver is eventually reunited with his long-lost family and welcomed into the Brownlow household. The novel is widely acknowledged for its vivid depiction of the conditions in the slums of London and is considered to be a classic example of the social injustice prevalent at the time. Despite being over one hundred and fifty years old, the novel has enjoyed a lasting popularity due to its timeless themes.