雾都孤儿

　　《雾都孤儿》是狄更斯于1838年出版的写实小说，是他的第一部重要的社会问题小说。这部小说以雾都伦敦为背景，讲述一个孤儿悲惨的身世及遭遇：主人公奥利佛是个孤儿，从小在济贫院长大，不知父母是谁。他在济贫院中受了九年的折磨后被送到一个承办丧事的店里当学徒，在那里受到虐待。他忍无可忍，独自逃往伦敦，不幸刚到便被骗误入贼窟，这是一个专事盗窃抢劫的团伙，为首的是老犹太人费金，除了少数头目外，都是些被引入邪路的少年儿童。费金一伙用威胁、利诱、灌输等手段，要把奥利佛变成他们的作案工具。奥利佛历尽无数辛酸，几经波折，最终被他父亲生前的朋友从贼窟中救出，找到了亲人，得到了遗产，过上了幸福的生活。

　　狄更斯Charles Dickens（1812～1870），1812年生于英国的朴次茅斯。父亲过着没有节制的生活，负债累累。年幼的狄更斯被迫被送进一家皮鞋油店当学徒，饱尝了艰辛。狄更斯16岁时，父亲因债务被关进监狱。从此，他们的生活更为悲惨。工业革命一方面带来了19世纪前期英国大都市的繁荣，另一方面又带来了庶民社会的极端贫困和对童工的残酷剥削。尖锐的社会矛盾和不公正的社会制度使狄更斯决心改变自己的生活。15岁时，狄更斯在一家律师事务所当抄写员并学习速记，此后，又在报社任新闻记者。在《记事晨报》任记者时，狄更斯开始发表一些具有讽刺和幽默内容的短剧，主要反映伦敦的生活，逐渐有了名气。他了解城市底层人民的生活和风土人情，这些都体现在他热情洋溢的笔端。此后，他在不同的杂志社任编辑、主编和发行人，其间发表了几十部长篇和短篇小说，主要作品有《雾都孤儿》、《圣诞颂歌》、《大卫·科波菲尔》和《远大前程》等。 狄更斯的作品大多取材于与自己的亲身经历或所见所闻相关联的事件。他在书中揭露了济贫院骇人听闻的生活制度，揭开了英国社会底层的可怕秘密，淋漓尽致地描写了社会的黑暗和罪恶。本书起笔便描写了主人公奥利弗生下来便成为孤儿，以及在济贫院度过的悲惨生活。后来，他被迫到殡仪馆做学徒，又因不堪忍受虐待而离家出走。孤身一人来到伦敦后，又落入了窃贼的手中。狄更斯在其作品中大量描写了黑暗的社会现实，对平民阶层寄予了深切的向情，并无情地批判了当时的社会制度。他在小说描写的现实性和人物的个性化方面成绩是突出的。他成为继莎士比亚之后，塑造作品人物数量最多的一个作家。

Chapter 1 Treats of the place where Oliver Twistwas born;
and of the circumstances attending his birth
Chapter 2 Treats of Oliver Twist's growth, education, and board
Chapter 3 Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting
a place, which would not have been a sinecure
Chapter 4 Oliver, being offered another place, makes his
first entry into public life
Chapter 5 Oliver mingles with new associates. Going to
a funeral for the first time, he forms an
unfavourable notion of his master's business
Chapter 6 Oliver, being goaded by the taunts of Noah,
rouses into action and rather astonishes him
Chapter 7 Oliver continues refractory
Chapter 8 Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the
road, a strange sort of young gentleman
Chapter 9 Containing further particulars concerning the
pleasant old gentleman and his hopeful pupils
Chapter l0 Oliver becomes better acquainted with the
characters of his new associates; and purchases
experience at a high price. Being a short but
very important chapter in this history
Chapter 11 Treats of Mr. Fang, the police magistrate; and
furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of
administering justice
Chapter 12 In which Oliver is taken better care of than
he ever was before. And in which the narrative
reverts to the merry old gentleman and his
youthful friends
Chapter 13 Some new acquaintances are introduced to the
intelligent reader; connected with whom
various pleasant matters are related appertaining
to this history
Chapter 14 Comprising further particulars of Oliver's stay at
Mr. Brownlow's, with the remarkable prediction
which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him
when he went out on an errand
Chapter 15 Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist the
merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were
Chapter 16 Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he
had been claimed by Nancy
Chapter 17 Oliver's destiny, continuing unpropitious,
brings a great man to London to injure his reputation
Chapter 18 How Oliver passed his time in the improving
society of his reputable friends
Chapter 19 In which a notable plan is discussed and
determined on
Chapter 20 Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes
Chapter 21 The expedition
Chapter 22 The burglary
Chapter 23 Which contains the substance of a pleasant
conversation between Mr. Bumble and a lady;
and shows that even a beadle may be susceptible
on some points
Chapter 24 Treats of a very poor subject. But is a short one;
and may be found of some importance in this
history
Chapter 25 Wherein this history refers to Mr. Fagin and
company
Chapter 26 In which a mysterious character appears upon
the scene; and many things, inseparable from
this history, are done and performed
Chapter 27 Atones for the unpoliteness of a former chapter;
which deserted a lady most unceremoniously
Chapter 28 Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his adventures
Chapter 29 Has an introductory account of the inmates of
the house to which Oliver resorted
Chapter 30 Relates what Oliver's new visitors thought of him
Chapter 31 Involves a critical position
Chapter 32 Of the happy life Oliver began to lead with
his kind friends
Chapter 33 Wherein the happiness of Oliver and his friends
experiences a sudden check
Chapter 34 Contains some introductory particulars relative to
a young gentleman who now arrives upon the
scene; and a new adventure which happened to Oliver
Chapter 35 Containing the unsatisfactory result of Oliver's
adventure; and a conversation of some
importance between Harry Maylie and Rose
Chapter 36 Is a very short one, and may appear of no great
importance in its place. But it should be read,
notwithstanding, as a sequel to the last, and a
key to one that will follow when its time arrives
Chapter 37 In which the reader may perceive a contrast,
not uncommon in matrimonial cases
Chapter 38 Containing an account of what passed between
Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Monks, at their
nocturnal interview
Chapter 39 Introduces some respectable characters with
whom the reader is already acquainted, and
shows how Monks and the Jew laid their
worthy heads together
Chapter 40 A strange interview, which is a sequel to the
last chapter
Chapter 41 Containing fresh discoveries, and showing that
surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone
Chapter 42 An old acquaintance of Oliver's, exhibiting
decided marks of genius, becomes a public
character in the metropolis
Chapter 43 Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger
got into trouble
Chapter 44 The time arrives for Nancy to redeem her
pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails
Chapter 45 Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a
secret mission
Chapter 46 The appointment kept
Chapter 47 Fatal consequences
Chapter 48 The flight of Sikes
Chapter 49 Monks and Mr. Browniow at length meet. Their
conversation, and the intelligence that interrupt,it
Chapter 50 The pursuit and escape
Chapter 51 Affording an explanation of more mysteries
than one, and comprehending a proposal of
marriage, with no word of settlement or pin-money
Chapter 52 The Jew's last night alive
Chapter 53 And last