OneofDickensmostenduringlypopularstoriesisOliverTwist,anearlyworkpublished1837-8.Likemanyofhislaternovels,itscentralthemeisthehardshipfacedbythedispossessedandthoseoftheoutsideoftolitesociety.Oliverhimselfisborninaworkhouseandtreatedcruellythereaswasthenormatthetimeforpauperchildren,inparticularbyBumble,aparishcouncilofficialoreadleThestoryfollowsOliverasheescapestheworkhouseandrunsawaytoLondon.HerehereceivesaneducationinvillainyfromthecriminalgangofFaginthatincludesthebrutalthiefBillSikes,thefamousartfulDodgerandNancy,Billwhore.Oliverisrescuedbytheinterventionofabenefactor-MrBrownlow-butthemysteriousMonksgetsthegangtokidnaptheboyagain.NancyintervenesbutismurderedviciouslybySikesaftershehasshowedsomeredeemingqualitiesandhasdiscoveredMonksinisterintention.ThestorycloseshappilyandwithjusticeforBumbleandthecruelMonkswhohashiddenthetruthofOliverparentageoutofmalice.Accusationsweremadethatthebookglamorisedcrime(liketheewgateGroupoftheperiod)butDickenswiselydisassociatedhimselffromcriminalromances.Hisachievementwasinfactinpresentingtheunderworldandproblemsofpovertytothewell-offinawayrarelyattemptedpreviously.