Franklin Library leather spine edition of Charles Dickens's "The Adventures of Oliver Twist," With twenty-four Illustrations by George Cruikshank, Introduction by Humphrey House, a Limited edition, one of the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS series, published in 1983. Bound with a 1/4 red leather spine, the book has marbled paper end leaves, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in FINE condition. Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812-1870, was born near PORTSMOUTH, England but his family moved to LONDON when he was two years old. "Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress" was first published from 1837-1839 as a serial.  The plot follows the titular orphan, who, after being raised in a workhouse, escapes to London, where he meets a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly Jew criminal FAGIN. The other chief members are the burglar, BILL SIKES, his companion, NANCY, and the Artful Dodger, an impudent young pickpocket. Every effort is made to convert Oliver into a thief.  He is temporarily rescued by the benevolent Mr. Brownlow.  Oliver comes into othe hands of Mrs. Maylie and her protege Rose, by whom he is kindly treated and brought up. Oliver's half-brother, MONKS, confesses that he has hated Oliver and wanted to retain their father's fortune and that he was responsible for leaving Oliver in the poorhouse. Ultimately, Oliver discovers the secrets of his parentage, and reconnects with his remaining family.  The novel portrays the sordid lives of criminals and exposes the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century.  Dickens satirizes child labor, domestic violence, and the recruitment of children as criminals, and the presence of street children. 440 pages.  I offer combined shipping.