Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress by DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870), [CRUIKSHANK, George, illustrator]

London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1880]. [English literature] Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.viii; 311; [1], blank. With twenty-four engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Dark brown half calf to style with gilt to spine, marbled sides, top edge gilt. Internally very clean, exterior unmarked. Title page also refers to 'A Tale Of Two Cities' although that title is not bound in. Overall a clean copy in a handsome recent leather binding. Dickens' classic second novel, following 'The Pickwick Papers', which publicised various hypocrisies and contemporary social evils, including the workhouse, child labour and the recruitment of children as criminals. Full of greed and corruption, sarcasm and dark humour, 'Oliver Twist' featured a host of immortal characters including Fagin, Bill Sikes, The Artful Dodger and of course, Oliver.