Orphaned and alone, young Oliver Twist travels to London to escape his life of poverty and abuse. Instead he falls in with a group of young pickpockets and con artists, led by the deceptively complex master thief Fagin. In his second novel, Charles Dickens creates a portrait of innocence that thrives in spite of misfortune, temptation, and societal ills. The supporting characters are equally fascinating, including the monstrous Bill Sykes, the cocky Artful Dodger, and the tragic Nancy.