What do you think?
Rate this book
Fagin the Thief
Long before Oliver Twist stumbled onto the scene, Jacob Fagin was scratching out a life for himself in the dark alleys of nineteenth-century London. Born in the Jewish enclave of Stepney shortly after his father was executed as a thief, Jacob's whole world is his open-minded mother, Leah. But Jacob’s prospects are forever altered when a light-fingered pickpocket takes Jacob under his wing and teaches him a trade that pays far better than the neighborhood boys could possibly dream.
Striking out on his own, Jacob familiarizes himself with London's highest value neighborhoods while forging his own path in the shadows. But everything changes when he adopts an aspiring teenage thief named Bill Sikes, whose mercurial temper poses a danger to himself and anyone foolish enough to cross him. Along the way, Jacob’s found family expands to include his closest friend, Nancy, and his greatest protégé, the Artful Dodger. But as Bill’s ambition soars and a major robbery goes awry, Jacob is forced to decide what he really stands for—and what a life is worth.
Colorfully written and wickedly funny, Allison Epstein breathes fresh life into the teeming streets of Dickensian London—reclaiming one of Victorian literature’s most notorious villains in an unforgettable new adventure.
Striking out on his own, Jacob familiarizes himself with London's highest value neighborhoods while forging his own path in the shadows. But everything changes when he adopts an aspiring teenage thief named Bill Sikes, whose mercurial temper poses a danger to himself and anyone foolish enough to cross him. Along the way, Jacob’s found family expands to include his closest friend, Nancy, and his greatest protégé, the Artful Dodger. But as Bill’s ambition soars and a major robbery goes awry, Jacob is forced to decide what he really stands for—and what a life is worth.
Colorfully written and wickedly funny, Allison Epstein breathes fresh life into the teeming streets of Dickensian London—reclaiming one of Victorian literature’s most notorious villains in an unforgettable new adventure.
Audiobook
First published February 25, 2025
255 people are currently reading
10408 people want to read
About the author
Allison Epstein
12 books329 followersAllison Epstein earned her M.F.A. in fiction from Northwestern University and a B.A. in creative writing and Renaissance literature from the University of Michigan. A Michigan native, she now lives in Chicago, where she enjoys good theater, bad puns, and fancy jackets. She is the author of A Tip for the Hangman, Let the Dead Bury the Dead, and Fagin the Thief. You can find her on Substack at rapscallison.substack.com.
(Goodreads Note: I use this site as a tracker of what I read in a year. I either rate books 5 stars or I don't rate them. Many books I don't rate, I enjoyed very much!)
(Goodreads Note: I use this site as a tracker of what I read in a year. I either rate books 5 stars or I don't rate them. Many books I don't rate, I enjoyed very much!)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
June 14, 2025
This is to Oliver Twist what James is to Huckelberry Finn. Dickens was an antisemite, as were most people at the time (and maybe now, but that is a separate discussion) and with Fagin he drew a vile caricature that perpetuated the rampant hatred of Jews. I am a Dickens fan, Great Expectations and David Copperfield are all-time favorite books of mine. Despite that, I have never particularly liked Oliver Twist. My dislike stems, in part, from the antisemitism, but perhaps even more from the fact that even for the inveterate drama queen Charles Dickens, that book was hella melodramatic. It turned out I liked this story a whole lot more.
Allison Epstein tells a new Fagin story, rich and nuanced. When Jacob Fagin (she gave him a first name!) gets cut, he most definitely bleeds. There is no black and white approach to this version of Fagin. He is neither a hero nor a villain. He keeps himself and others alive and tries not to do more damage than needed. He is human. Epstein does not slavishly hew to the original text here, and though she writes in a similar style, she does not try to write as if she were Charles himself. That is one thing I generally dislike about retellings. If you write as Jane Austen, chances are astronomically high you will suck in a head to head comparison with the actual Jane Austen. You might write well, but she is the best at being Jane Austen. The same is definitely true of Dickens. Wordy though he was, that man could paint a scene and create humanity out of whole cloth like nobody's business. I think Epstein, like Percival Everett did in James, respected their source material, and told stories Twain and Dickens couldn't. They brought humanity to characters we only knew in relation to the White Christian males around them. (Relatedly, Epstein also animates Nancy and tells us something about her other than who she is in relation to Bill Sykes.) There is a wonderful Author's Note and Acknowledgments section at the end of this in which Epstein thanks a list of authors whom she says do not know how much their work has meant to her and how it informed this book. It is a good list of writers, many of whom have also impacted my view of literature, and one of them is Percival Everett, whom I had been thinking of throughout, so that was nice.
One note: I listened to this, and the narration by Will Watt was stellar -- probably the best narration of the year so far for me, and though it may be equaled, I cannot imagine it will be surpassed.
Allison Epstein tells a new Fagin story, rich and nuanced. When Jacob Fagin (she gave him a first name!) gets cut, he most definitely bleeds. There is no black and white approach to this version of Fagin. He is neither a hero nor a villain. He keeps himself and others alive and tries not to do more damage than needed. He is human. Epstein does not slavishly hew to the original text here, and though she writes in a similar style, she does not try to write as if she were Charles himself. That is one thing I generally dislike about retellings. If you write as Jane Austen, chances are astronomically high you will suck in a head to head comparison with the actual Jane Austen. You might write well, but she is the best at being Jane Austen. The same is definitely true of Dickens. Wordy though he was, that man could paint a scene and create humanity out of whole cloth like nobody's business. I think Epstein, like Percival Everett did in James, respected their source material, and told stories Twain and Dickens couldn't. They brought humanity to characters we only knew in relation to the White Christian males around them. (Relatedly, Epstein also animates Nancy and tells us something about her other than who she is in relation to Bill Sykes.) There is a wonderful Author's Note and Acknowledgments section at the end of this in which Epstein thanks a list of authors whom she says do not know how much their work has meant to her and how it informed this book. It is a good list of writers, many of whom have also impacted my view of literature, and one of them is Percival Everett, whom I had been thinking of throughout, so that was nice.
One note: I listened to this, and the narration by Will Watt was stellar -- probably the best narration of the year so far for me, and though it may be equaled, I cannot imagine it will be surpassed.
Read
July 31, 2025I have a predeliction for novels that take a minor or secondary character from a published work and create another novel using that character. I love the leap of faith the writer takes. Obviously, this book takes the character Fagin from "Oliver Twist", gives him a backstory, creates a personal history for him, develops him into a truly well-rounded individual, and does a pretty good job of avoiding the stereotypical Fagin that we see in stage productions of the musical version of Dickens' novel. She also provides the reader with an understanding of the arch villain in the story: Bill Sikes. He emerges as a pitiful character who never had a chance in life other than the chance of a connection to two other human beings: Fagin and Nancy. For this reader, the most admirable part of the novel was how the author made the relationship between Nancy and Bill Sikes both believable and understandable. She allows us to see that, as damaged as he is, Bill Sikes loves Nancy and sees her as his other half as she sees him. Oliver Twist has merely a couple of cameo appearances and Jack Dawkins--the Artful Dodger--doesn't have many more than Oliver. But the book isn't about them. It's about human connection and how it can uplift a life or destroy it.
Additionally, the author is a fine writer. Her depiction of Victorian London is so real that one can practically hear the rats skittering through the alleyways and into abandoned buildings. Her prose is engaging and her story-telling ability is excellent. I'm ordering her other two historical novels. I highly recommend her.
Additionally, the author is a fine writer. Her depiction of Victorian London is so real that one can practically hear the rats skittering through the alleyways and into abandoned buildings. Her prose is engaging and her story-telling ability is excellent. I'm ordering her other two historical novels. I highly recommend her.
February 14, 2025
“It’s the world, my friend my dear boy, it’s the world that takes us by the collar and drags us forward, because what use is an honest man, Bill, when that honest man is dead in a ditch, the point of life is to live it, that’s all I ever tried to teach you.”
Fagin – we never learn his first name or his backstory in Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist – represents one of the most egregious anti-Semitic stereotypes in literary history. With his large nose, bent posture, and money-grubbing intentions, he morally corrupts and exploits young orphans to pickpocket and rob people so he can make a profit.
We know that Dickens published a new edition of Oliver Twist in 1867, removing many of the offensive stereotypes nd the numerous places where Fagin is referred to only as “the Jew”. It was a start. But now Allison Epstein, in her riveting new book, enables readers to come face to face with the REAL Fagin, and his story couldn’t be more mesmerizing.
First, she gives him a first name – Jacob – and reveals his story. Growing up in poverty in a Jewish ghetto in London with a loving mother who died when he was only 16, Fagin is forced to live by his wits. Soon he masters the sleight of hand. He becomes quite good at staying out of jail, but he is still the victim of poverty, virulent anti-Semitism, and viewed as little more than societal vermin.
In Ms. Epstein’s version of Fagin, he is a sympathetic – or at least partially sympathetic – character who rescues the dregs of society, little children who are living on the street, and can survive only by learning thieving skills. The names we know from Oliver Twist – Artful Dodger, Toby Crackit, Charley Bates, Oliver Twist, and of course, the villainous Bill Sikes- are all here. But make no mistake, the spotlight is mainly on Fagin, with Bill Sikes as co-star. Although Fagin isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of someone to have a spot of tea with, he’s also not the repulsive person who preys on young boys to help him line his pockets.
Fagin the Thief is an absorbing character study. It helps, of course, to know the basics of Dickens’ Oliver Twist, but Ms. Epstein’s version also stands on its own. As she writes in her author’s note, “I don’t know whether, as Dickens says, there are ‘some insensible and callous natures, that do become utterly and incurably bad.’ But if writing fiction is an exercise in imaginative empathy, I think we at least have to ask why.
The author fulfills her goal of helping the reader build empathy for one of the most maligned characters in fiction. It’s a strong feat. It helps that the book is so well-written that it’s hard to put down. I owe a great debt to Doubleday for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fagin – we never learn his first name or his backstory in Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist – represents one of the most egregious anti-Semitic stereotypes in literary history. With his large nose, bent posture, and money-grubbing intentions, he morally corrupts and exploits young orphans to pickpocket and rob people so he can make a profit.
We know that Dickens published a new edition of Oliver Twist in 1867, removing many of the offensive stereotypes nd the numerous places where Fagin is referred to only as “the Jew”. It was a start. But now Allison Epstein, in her riveting new book, enables readers to come face to face with the REAL Fagin, and his story couldn’t be more mesmerizing.
First, she gives him a first name – Jacob – and reveals his story. Growing up in poverty in a Jewish ghetto in London with a loving mother who died when he was only 16, Fagin is forced to live by his wits. Soon he masters the sleight of hand. He becomes quite good at staying out of jail, but he is still the victim of poverty, virulent anti-Semitism, and viewed as little more than societal vermin.
In Ms. Epstein’s version of Fagin, he is a sympathetic – or at least partially sympathetic – character who rescues the dregs of society, little children who are living on the street, and can survive only by learning thieving skills. The names we know from Oliver Twist – Artful Dodger, Toby Crackit, Charley Bates, Oliver Twist, and of course, the villainous Bill Sikes- are all here. But make no mistake, the spotlight is mainly on Fagin, with Bill Sikes as co-star. Although Fagin isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of someone to have a spot of tea with, he’s also not the repulsive person who preys on young boys to help him line his pockets.
Fagin the Thief is an absorbing character study. It helps, of course, to know the basics of Dickens’ Oliver Twist, but Ms. Epstein’s version also stands on its own. As she writes in her author’s note, “I don’t know whether, as Dickens says, there are ‘some insensible and callous natures, that do become utterly and incurably bad.’ But if writing fiction is an exercise in imaginative empathy, I think we at least have to ask why.
The author fulfills her goal of helping the reader build empathy for one of the most maligned characters in fiction. It’s a strong feat. It helps that the book is so well-written that it’s hard to put down. I owe a great debt to Doubleday for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2025
Epstein slyly picks the lock on Charles Dickens' infamous character, revealing not the one-dimensional villain of Victorian literature but a man whose wit and desperation glide like nimble fingers through a gentleman's pocket.
Jacob Fagin—no longer merely "The Jew" as Dickens so relentlessly labeled him—finds himself caught between the rock of loyalty and the hard place of survival when Bill Sikes delivers an ultimatum that can't be refused: "I'm going to sting the crib, Fagin. And you're going to help me."
Epstein's brilliant reclamation rescues Fagin from the antisemitic caricature Dickens created—a character referred to as "The Jew" over 250 times in Oliver Twist, more than any other descriptor. Where Dickens painted with the broad, prejudiced strokes of his time, Epstein restores humanity, complexity, and dignity to Jacob Fagin without whitewashing his morally ambiguous choices.
This ultimatum plunges our reluctant protagonist into a thieves' lair where every turn presents another impossible choice: protect Oliver Twist or protect himself; navigate Nan's fiery independence while dodging Mr. Forrester's accusations over "found" merchandise; and confront memories of Leah and a fever that nearly claimed him.
When Fagin muses, "Sometimes I wonder. Seems to me being poor and hated is more honest than being rich and hated," the dialogue ignites with a tension that would make even the Artful Dodger applaud.
The novel overflows with moments that stick to your ribs like a hearty bowl of Mrs. Bumble's gruel. During his arrest, Fagin's chilling self-realization—"He is bones and skin and teeth, something feral and unchained"—reveals the animal desperation of the hunted. His quiet defiance against prejudice shines when he answers simply, "Fagin," refusing to let others' hatred define him. Bill's taunt about antisemitism: "Rothschild has money... Poor old Fagin, can't even be the right kind of Jew," highlights how Fagin is doubly marginalized—despised for both his faith and his poverty.
When young Dodger puffs on a purloined cigar, Toby's exclamation—"Christ on the bleeding cross, Fagin, this one's a regular Bill Sikes in miniature"—links generations of London's criminal underclass with the wit of a courtroom jester. Meanwhile, Fagin's protective embrace of young Bill—"You're safe," repeated like a prayer—reveals tenderness where Dickens saw only calculation and cruelty.
Epstein's prose pickpockets the best of literary traditions: her psychological depth would make Dostoevsky tip his hat, while her wit carries Oscar Wilde's calling card.
Consider Fagin's mordant observation on his religious bargain: "If God holds up his end, Jacob can be counted on to hold up the other"—a theological contract sealed with a wink. Or take his cynical explanation for his diet: "Why do you think I eat so many eels... Makes it impossible to get a proper grip on me."
Where Dickens saw only a stereotype to vilify, Epstein finds a man wrestling with impossible choices in a society determined to view him as inherently corrupt. As Fagin stands before the court and declares, "Not guilty, my lord," with quiet dignity, readers must confront their own judgments about justice, prejudice, and redemption.
Despite residing at times somewhere between YA and fan-fiction, I round this 3.5-star writing to four stars for its sequel-ish sleight of hand that manages to channel prejudice while leaving readers richer for the experience. The moral? If life hands you lemons, trade them for silk handkerchiefs—and even the most maligned literary ghosts deserve the chance to leave footprints of their own.
Jacob Fagin—no longer merely "The Jew" as Dickens so relentlessly labeled him—finds himself caught between the rock of loyalty and the hard place of survival when Bill Sikes delivers an ultimatum that can't be refused: "I'm going to sting the crib, Fagin. And you're going to help me."
Epstein's brilliant reclamation rescues Fagin from the antisemitic caricature Dickens created—a character referred to as "The Jew" over 250 times in Oliver Twist, more than any other descriptor. Where Dickens painted with the broad, prejudiced strokes of his time, Epstein restores humanity, complexity, and dignity to Jacob Fagin without whitewashing his morally ambiguous choices.
This ultimatum plunges our reluctant protagonist into a thieves' lair where every turn presents another impossible choice: protect Oliver Twist or protect himself; navigate Nan's fiery independence while dodging Mr. Forrester's accusations over "found" merchandise; and confront memories of Leah and a fever that nearly claimed him.
When Fagin muses, "Sometimes I wonder. Seems to me being poor and hated is more honest than being rich and hated," the dialogue ignites with a tension that would make even the Artful Dodger applaud.
The novel overflows with moments that stick to your ribs like a hearty bowl of Mrs. Bumble's gruel. During his arrest, Fagin's chilling self-realization—"He is bones and skin and teeth, something feral and unchained"—reveals the animal desperation of the hunted. His quiet defiance against prejudice shines when he answers simply, "Fagin," refusing to let others' hatred define him. Bill's taunt about antisemitism: "Rothschild has money... Poor old Fagin, can't even be the right kind of Jew," highlights how Fagin is doubly marginalized—despised for both his faith and his poverty.
When young Dodger puffs on a purloined cigar, Toby's exclamation—"Christ on the bleeding cross, Fagin, this one's a regular Bill Sikes in miniature"—links generations of London's criminal underclass with the wit of a courtroom jester. Meanwhile, Fagin's protective embrace of young Bill—"You're safe," repeated like a prayer—reveals tenderness where Dickens saw only calculation and cruelty.
Epstein's prose pickpockets the best of literary traditions: her psychological depth would make Dostoevsky tip his hat, while her wit carries Oscar Wilde's calling card.
Consider Fagin's mordant observation on his religious bargain: "If God holds up his end, Jacob can be counted on to hold up the other"—a theological contract sealed with a wink. Or take his cynical explanation for his diet: "Why do you think I eat so many eels... Makes it impossible to get a proper grip on me."
Where Dickens saw only a stereotype to vilify, Epstein finds a man wrestling with impossible choices in a society determined to view him as inherently corrupt. As Fagin stands before the court and declares, "Not guilty, my lord," with quiet dignity, readers must confront their own judgments about justice, prejudice, and redemption.
Despite residing at times somewhere between YA and fan-fiction, I round this 3.5-star writing to four stars for its sequel-ish sleight of hand that manages to channel prejudice while leaving readers richer for the experience. The moral? If life hands you lemons, trade them for silk handkerchiefs—and even the most maligned literary ghosts deserve the chance to leave footprints of their own.
May 18, 2025
Surely all readers, lovers of literature, fans of Dickens, know who Fagin is. Many many years ago “Fagin” was the character who started my love for Dickens. Such a brilliant character.
While an important character in “Oliver Twist”, the reader is never told much of his background. We are treated to his twisted charm, his oh so readable dialogue, but again not his history. Epstein has taken on this task and done an exemplary job. If you love Dickens, you will love this book.
I recently reread “Oliver Twist” and “The Scent of Oranges” with Nat K and now this novel fleshes out some of literatures most iconic characters. Epstein paints a picture of Fagin that invokes feelings of empathy and perhaps even a touch of admiration for this “villain”. He is only sixteen when his mother dies and his only option if he wants to survive is to turn to a life of crime. Just as he will go on to teach others, he is taken under the wind of a pick pocket who teaches him the craft he will become an expert at. In “Oliver Twist” he is seldomly referred to as Fagin, rather he is nearly always called “the Jew” and straight from birth he must deal with antisemitism from seemingly everybody in his world.
Epstein also takes on the task of exploring Fagin’s relationship with the explosive Bill Sikes. As we learn about Fagin’s past we also learn about Sikes’. The brutal violent father who turned him into the murderous monster he has become. The violence that burns through his veins threatening to erupt at the slightest trigger. We learn of his reciprocated love for Nancy. Just about the only person who can temper his anger and rage.
I absolutely adored this book, and believe all lovers of Dicken’s will also. I hope that Epstein will go on to write more novels! :-)
While an important character in “Oliver Twist”, the reader is never told much of his background. We are treated to his twisted charm, his oh so readable dialogue, but again not his history. Epstein has taken on this task and done an exemplary job. If you love Dickens, you will love this book.
I recently reread “Oliver Twist” and “The Scent of Oranges” with Nat K and now this novel fleshes out some of literatures most iconic characters. Epstein paints a picture of Fagin that invokes feelings of empathy and perhaps even a touch of admiration for this “villain”. He is only sixteen when his mother dies and his only option if he wants to survive is to turn to a life of crime. Just as he will go on to teach others, he is taken under the wind of a pick pocket who teaches him the craft he will become an expert at. In “Oliver Twist” he is seldomly referred to as Fagin, rather he is nearly always called “the Jew” and straight from birth he must deal with antisemitism from seemingly everybody in his world.
Epstein also takes on the task of exploring Fagin’s relationship with the explosive Bill Sikes. As we learn about Fagin’s past we also learn about Sikes’. The brutal violent father who turned him into the murderous monster he has become. The violence that burns through his veins threatening to erupt at the slightest trigger. We learn of his reciprocated love for Nancy. Just about the only person who can temper his anger and rage.
I absolutely adored this book, and believe all lovers of Dicken’s will also. I hope that Epstein will go on to write more novels! :-)
May 31, 2025
4.5 rounded up, because it was a fun experience, along with being well done.
I can't say I "enjoy" the world created by Dickens in Oliver Twist...with its seediness and grime and lost souls darting out from dark corners to snatch what they can from others. But it's a worthwhile portrayal of what some faced during that time period in struggling towns, and makes for a riveting read.
As does this one. Epstein does an admirable job of recreating characters and settings in Fagin the Thief. There is much that is familiar, but also new focus and depth that was lacking in the original. The harsh nature of the surroundings and the struggle to survive, never mind prosper, rings true, and can bring a touch of sympathy despite all the wrongdoing that goes on. These characters are fully fleshed out, with explanations and insinuations as to what molded them into the questionable humans they became. Hardship can make us stronger, but it can also erase our potential. Fagin and Sykes were layered and complex, making it difficult to simply dismiss them as monsters, despite monstrous behavior at times.
The narrator on audio was fabulous, and really added to the ambiance of the story.
I can't say I "enjoy" the world created by Dickens in Oliver Twist...with its seediness and grime and lost souls darting out from dark corners to snatch what they can from others. But it's a worthwhile portrayal of what some faced during that time period in struggling towns, and makes for a riveting read.
As does this one. Epstein does an admirable job of recreating characters and settings in Fagin the Thief. There is much that is familiar, but also new focus and depth that was lacking in the original. The harsh nature of the surroundings and the struggle to survive, never mind prosper, rings true, and can bring a touch of sympathy despite all the wrongdoing that goes on. These characters are fully fleshed out, with explanations and insinuations as to what molded them into the questionable humans they became. Hardship can make us stronger, but it can also erase our potential. Fagin and Sykes were layered and complex, making it difficult to simply dismiss them as monsters, despite monstrous behavior at times.
The narrator on audio was fabulous, and really added to the ambiance of the story.
March 13, 2025
I loved the concept of this book. A retelling of Oliver Twist. Fagin takes several people under his wing and trains them to be pickpockets. We learn of his tough childhood and how he becomes a mentor. But when one of his proteges takes the law into his own hands, will Fagin rise above circumstances to show mercy and the best of humanity. Epstein's skillful writing of the Jewish Quarter in London is less prejudicial and has a modern "twist." She does it justice, but I don't think the subject and era is my cup of tea. If you loved Oliver Twist, you will love this book.
May 2, 2025
I really enjoyed Allison Epstein’s debut, A Tip for the Hangman. I missed her middle book and definitely need to go back and read it. Fagin the Thief is her first and definitely one of my favorite novels this year. As a fan of Dickens and his tales of the less fortunate, this book ticked every box.
If you’ve read Oliver Twist, you know “Fagin.” In this story, he has a first name, too: Jacob. A thief, a liar, a bad man, totally imperfect… but so easy to understand, especially once you know his story.
Jacob is born in London just after his father is hanged for being a thief. He and his mother, Leah, live in a Jewish neighborhood. His mother has a certain path in mind for him and ensures he is educated and surrounded with books. But Jacob’s path crosses with a professional pickpocket, and the allure is strong for Jacob because money has always been tight.
Years later, Jacob is now the professional pickpocket training others like Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. His internal conflict is there throughout. He knows what he is doing is wrong, but he’s also just trying to survive, and it’s become a way of life. One of Jacob’s former “students,” Bill Sykes, is a house thief and volatile. He blames Jacob for the direction of his life and even his crimes at times. Eventually there is an escalation between the two that will place a giant fork in the road.
I could not have loved this book more. I’m grateful the author gave Jacob a different ending and one that was true to the history of the time. Fagin the Thief is storytelling perfection from beginning to end. I was completely invested and grateful for the visit to Dickensian London. For fans of Dickens and historical fiction, this is an absolute must. All the stars.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
If you’ve read Oliver Twist, you know “Fagin.” In this story, he has a first name, too: Jacob. A thief, a liar, a bad man, totally imperfect… but so easy to understand, especially once you know his story.
Jacob is born in London just after his father is hanged for being a thief. He and his mother, Leah, live in a Jewish neighborhood. His mother has a certain path in mind for him and ensures he is educated and surrounded with books. But Jacob’s path crosses with a professional pickpocket, and the allure is strong for Jacob because money has always been tight.
Years later, Jacob is now the professional pickpocket training others like Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. His internal conflict is there throughout. He knows what he is doing is wrong, but he’s also just trying to survive, and it’s become a way of life. One of Jacob’s former “students,” Bill Sykes, is a house thief and volatile. He blames Jacob for the direction of his life and even his crimes at times. Eventually there is an escalation between the two that will place a giant fork in the road.
I could not have loved this book more. I’m grateful the author gave Jacob a different ending and one that was true to the history of the time. Fagin the Thief is storytelling perfection from beginning to end. I was completely invested and grateful for the visit to Dickensian London. For fans of Dickens and historical fiction, this is an absolute must. All the stars.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 20, 2025
Such a good story! Audiobook
August 14, 2025
A fascinating reimagining of Oliver Twist – I loved it.
October 6, 2024
This "origin story" of Charles Dickens' Fagin from "Oliver Twist" is best read as its own literary historical fiction novel, rather than as a companion to Dickens' novel. Epstein's Fagin holds little in common with Dickens', the latter being a caricature and villainous pantomime figure with little depth, backstory, and sympathy shown to him by the author or felt by the reader. In contrast, Epstein creates a character that is vibrant, sympathetic, and even lovable. This is the story of a Jew born into poverty in London in the early 19th century. As such, he has more in common with Oliver in Dickens' novel than with his namesake. Whereas Dickens' heart went completely to Oliver, describing the horrors of poverty for children at that time (having experienced them himself), Dickens had no sympathy left over for Fagin. Epstein shows us that Fagin's childhood was every bit as tragic as Oliver's. We meet him at a very young age and follow his story through to his ending (paralleling the events in the Dickens novel but not copying them completely). Dickens' Fagin is not completely devoid of humanity, as he shows glimpses here and there of a heart, but Epstein's Fagin is overall as different a character from Dickens' Fagin as could be. Thus my initial caution to enjoy this novel -- and it is very enjoyable -- not as an appendix to Dickens but on its own merit and terms.
As such, the book is great. The characters are well-drawn and vibrant. The story follows Fagin through his childhood and adulthood, from early independent "living" through to mastering his "trade." We, living in the lap of luxury, easily forget the privations of the past that most people lived and died through, and the harshness of life before sanitation, medicine, electricity, and the like. Epstein shows us the brutality of life in 19th century England in bold colors and images, life that was at every moment threatened and never far away from starvation, loneliness, sickness and death.
All in all this is a great read. Thanks for the ARC to the author and publishers.
As such, the book is great. The characters are well-drawn and vibrant. The story follows Fagin through his childhood and adulthood, from early independent "living" through to mastering his "trade." We, living in the lap of luxury, easily forget the privations of the past that most people lived and died through, and the harshness of life before sanitation, medicine, electricity, and the like. Epstein shows us the brutality of life in 19th century England in bold colors and images, life that was at every moment threatened and never far away from starvation, loneliness, sickness and death.
All in all this is a great read. Thanks for the ARC to the author and publishers.
May 13, 2025
3.25 stars ...
I'm quite familiar with the original literary gem, as well as several TV/movie adaptations, so I was quite excited for this one. Alas, it didn't really work for me. A bit too dry and dull for my tastes. I expect a film adaptation of this would be much more to my liking.
I'm quite familiar with the original literary gem, as well as several TV/movie adaptations, so I was quite excited for this one. Alas, it didn't really work for me. A bit too dry and dull for my tastes. I expect a film adaptation of this would be much more to my liking.
June 3, 2025
[4.25] “Please, sir, I want some more.” Ever since my movie-loving dad took me to see “Oliver” when I was 9 or 10, I’ve been intrigued by the characters in Dickens’ classic. Epstein’s impressive reimagining of this saga set in early 1800s London left me pleading, “Please, madam, I want some more.”
Epstein’s creative origin story of Fagin manages to transform an almost cartoon-like stereotype into a complex, multidimensional and even sympathetic character. As she skillfully guides readers down this literary path, we learn more about Fagin’s relationships with Nancy and with Bill Sikes. Here’s where I was craving “more.” I believe Epstein could have further developed some of the relationships between Fagin and his endearing adolescent apprentices.
The author noted that Dickens’ original work about life in London’s Jewish Quarter was replete with antisemitic overtones. She wrote that she strived to make her retelling less prejudicial.
Epstein’s creative origin story of Fagin manages to transform an almost cartoon-like stereotype into a complex, multidimensional and even sympathetic character. As she skillfully guides readers down this literary path, we learn more about Fagin’s relationships with Nancy and with Bill Sikes. Here’s where I was craving “more.” I believe Epstein could have further developed some of the relationships between Fagin and his endearing adolescent apprentices.
The author noted that Dickens’ original work about life in London’s Jewish Quarter was replete with antisemitic overtones. She wrote that she strived to make her retelling less prejudicial.
Read
November 17, 2025It's a brave author who sets out to rewrite Dickens, and Epstein thanks the agent who encouraged her to overcome her own reservations. I'm glad she did. Fagin the Thief reimagines not only the eponymous villain from Oliver Twist but also Bullseye, Bill Sikes's vicious hound. How does a person turn into such a heartless exploiter of vulnerable children? Dickens, as Epstein reminds us in her Author's Note, seems to think it's in some people's nature: "as Dickens says, there are 'some insensible and callous natures, that do become utterly and incurably bad.'" But Epstein takes a different approach: "if writing fiction is an exercise in imaginative empathy, I think we at least have to ask why." This novel is, essentially, the answer to that "why?" (All quotations, above and below, are from p. 321.) It's rich and rewarding enough that I found myself sorely missing the book club I don't belong to - I'd love to discuss this book with a few friends who had also just read it.
What I loved: In the Author's Note, Epstein writes "There are Jews who hurt others. There are Jews who are kind. There are Jews who believe nine contradictory things before breakfast, who love the wrong people in the wrong ways, who perpetrate horrors, who stand up for justice, who make the best of the hand they're dealt. All of these can be true of the same Jewish person. No demographic is a reliable shorthand for what a person believes. The only way to find out is if you ask and listen." Anyone who can write that should be able to create complex and multilayered characters, and Epstein succeeds in that with "Jacob" Fagin.
If I liked it so much, why not five stars? Well, maybe this book does deserve five and maybe I'll come back and change it. I suppose I was a bit confused by the difference between the villainous Fagin I was repeatedly told about and the absence of villainy really shown. That is, Fagin seemed to me to be ultimately a very generous and loving man who actually did help others, who gave more than he took, time and time again. He repeatedly describes himself -- and is described by Epstein -- as selfish. But his behavior is more often deeply kind than selfish, despite himself. As an example, we are told he doesn't usually help his mother before we witness him helping her as best he absolutely can under very difficult circumstances: "Jacob isn't a helpful child. If he's offering to assist his mother without being cajoled into it, it's because he knows the circumstances are extraordinary" (54). I think it may just be that most of Fagin's bad behavior occurs offstage, whereas the parts of his life we actually "witness" generally feature him gruffly and unsentimentally revealing himself to be secretly quite sentimental indeed, incredibly loyal, deeply generous.
The only other mild criticism I would have is that other characters are more Dickensian, which is a fancy way of saying somewhat flat. The good ones are angelic ("hooker with a heart of gold, anyone"?) the bad ones are rotten (although poor Bill is treated like a murderer long before he ever comes close to murdering anyone). In this perhaps Epstein is just showing a certain amount of fealty to her source material -- although in other ways she's quite happy to depart fairly substantially (see again the excellent Author's Note).
All in all a wonderful read, perfect for a conversation with a friend.
What I loved: In the Author's Note, Epstein writes "There are Jews who hurt others. There are Jews who are kind. There are Jews who believe nine contradictory things before breakfast, who love the wrong people in the wrong ways, who perpetrate horrors, who stand up for justice, who make the best of the hand they're dealt. All of these can be true of the same Jewish person. No demographic is a reliable shorthand for what a person believes. The only way to find out is if you ask and listen." Anyone who can write that should be able to create complex and multilayered characters, and Epstein succeeds in that with "Jacob" Fagin.
If I liked it so much, why not five stars? Well, maybe this book does deserve five and maybe I'll come back and change it. I suppose I was a bit confused by the difference between the villainous Fagin I was repeatedly told about and the absence of villainy really shown. That is, Fagin seemed to me to be ultimately a very generous and loving man who actually did help others, who gave more than he took, time and time again. He repeatedly describes himself -- and is described by Epstein -- as selfish. But his behavior is more often deeply kind than selfish, despite himself. As an example, we are told he doesn't usually help his mother before we witness him helping her as best he absolutely can under very difficult circumstances: "Jacob isn't a helpful child. If he's offering to assist his mother without being cajoled into it, it's because he knows the circumstances are extraordinary" (54). I think it may just be that most of Fagin's bad behavior occurs offstage, whereas the parts of his life we actually "witness" generally feature him gruffly and unsentimentally revealing himself to be secretly quite sentimental indeed, incredibly loyal, deeply generous.
The only other mild criticism I would have is that other characters are more Dickensian, which is a fancy way of saying somewhat flat. The good ones are angelic ("hooker with a heart of gold, anyone"?) the bad ones are rotten (although poor Bill is treated like a murderer long before he ever comes close to murdering anyone). In this perhaps Epstein is just showing a certain amount of fealty to her source material -- although in other ways she's quite happy to depart fairly substantially (see again the excellent Author's Note).
All in all a wonderful read, perfect for a conversation with a friend.
April 17, 2025
"The people here might not like me, but they know me,” [Fagin’s mother Leah] said once when he asked. "These days I’d rather be known than guessed at.”
“What’s class but nice clothes and pretty words?”
"Fagin," she says. "I’m sorry," he says automatically. "You aren’t," she tells him, and of course she’s right. He’s sorry it happened, but not for anything he did. Or rather, he’s sorry for everything he did, but he’d do nothing differently if given a second chance. And remorse like that isn’t worth the words used to describe it.
I don’t think I’ve read Oliver Twist since high school, but who can forget Fagin, Bill Sykes, or Nancy. What I had managed to forget (or more likely, never noticed) was the antisemitism. In fact, I did not even recall that Fagin is a Jew. Interestingly, neither did the well-read friend to whom I recommended this novel.
I’m grateful to Allison Epstein for bringing a character I’d only ever thought of as a stock villain into the light. She gives us a complex and deeply human character who is not a good man, and is probably not a sympathetic character for many readers, but neither is he an evil man. He certainly is a man we can sympathize with. An outsider in society, stuck in a place from which that society will never let him escape, Fagin understandably chooses self-preservation over community. It isn’t pretty, but the realism, together with his unflinching honesty about himself and his choices is as effective at revealing not only endemic antisemitism but also the socioeconomic disorder of late Georgian England. In fact, I’d say this is as effective a social critique as anything I’ve ever read by Dickens. I found Epstein at her most compelling when she showed the tension between Fagin’s drive for self-preservation and the longing for love that he could not bring himself to acknowledge or pursue. ("Longing for love sounds trite, but trust me, in this novel it is anything but trite.) The whole relationship with Bill Sykes unfolds in the center of this tension, and as far as I could tell, it is only at the very end that Fagin can admit that he loves Bill as something between a surrogate son and a good friend (he doesn’t articulate it in these terms, but this is how it came across to me). I also very much liked that Epstein did not neglect Fagin’s spiritual life. It’s as lonely and bitter as the rest of his experience, but it was part of what made Fagin so rich a character.
I can unequivocally recommend this. The audio narration by Will Watt is superb. Be sure to read the author's note at the end.
“What’s class but nice clothes and pretty words?”
"Fagin," she says. "I’m sorry," he says automatically. "You aren’t," she tells him, and of course she’s right. He’s sorry it happened, but not for anything he did. Or rather, he’s sorry for everything he did, but he’d do nothing differently if given a second chance. And remorse like that isn’t worth the words used to describe it.
I don’t think I’ve read Oliver Twist since high school, but who can forget Fagin, Bill Sykes, or Nancy. What I had managed to forget (or more likely, never noticed) was the antisemitism. In fact, I did not even recall that Fagin is a Jew. Interestingly, neither did the well-read friend to whom I recommended this novel.
I’m grateful to Allison Epstein for bringing a character I’d only ever thought of as a stock villain into the light. She gives us a complex and deeply human character who is not a good man, and is probably not a sympathetic character for many readers, but neither is he an evil man. He certainly is a man we can sympathize with. An outsider in society, stuck in a place from which that society will never let him escape, Fagin understandably chooses self-preservation over community. It isn’t pretty, but the realism, together with his unflinching honesty about himself and his choices is as effective at revealing not only endemic antisemitism but also the socioeconomic disorder of late Georgian England. In fact, I’d say this is as effective a social critique as anything I’ve ever read by Dickens. I found Epstein at her most compelling when she showed the tension between Fagin’s drive for self-preservation and the longing for love that he could not bring himself to acknowledge or pursue. ("Longing for love sounds trite, but trust me, in this novel it is anything but trite.) The whole relationship with Bill Sykes unfolds in the center of this tension, and as far as I could tell, it is only at the very end that Fagin can admit that he loves Bill as something between a surrogate son and a good friend (he doesn’t articulate it in these terms, but this is how it came across to me). I also very much liked that Epstein did not neglect Fagin’s spiritual life. It’s as lonely and bitter as the rest of his experience, but it was part of what made Fagin so rich a character.
I can unequivocally recommend this. The audio narration by Will Watt is superb. Be sure to read the author's note at the end.
December 23, 2025
So Allison Epstein decided to take us for a walk with Jacob Fagin thus opening up our perspective of this much maligned character in Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist.
So from a total anti hero, we get a man, a man with his all his flaws but also with his strengths and yes his books and his silk handkerchiefs. A man who's greatest strength was his perseverance, his resilience in the midst of abysmal adversity.
Dickens Fagin is a caricature of evil, underlining the impossibility of escaping one's nature or birth, whilst Epstein's Fagin is a man who is nurtured by ugly surroundings and creates a life in spite of that.
My knowledge of Oliver Twist acted as a kind of foreshadowing whilst reading this story, I could not hope for a different end though I so greatly wished it. But this did not take anything away from my reading experience rather it created possibilities of changing perspectives.
So from a total anti hero, we get a man, a man with his all his flaws but also with his strengths and yes his books and his silk handkerchiefs. A man who's greatest strength was his perseverance, his resilience in the midst of abysmal adversity.
Dickens Fagin is a caricature of evil, underlining the impossibility of escaping one's nature or birth, whilst Epstein's Fagin is a man who is nurtured by ugly surroundings and creates a life in spite of that.
My knowledge of Oliver Twist acted as a kind of foreshadowing whilst reading this story, I could not hope for a different end though I so greatly wished it. But this did not take anything away from my reading experience rather it created possibilities of changing perspectives.
December 21, 2024
3.5 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Doubleday for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Publishes Feb 25, 2025.
I am pretty skeptical about retellings. Seldom do I care for the changes that are made to the original story or characters. However with this book, it was not so much a retelling as it was a deeper probe and continuation into the lives that Dickens made popular.
We are reintroduced to Fagin, as an adult. Along with Nancy, Bill Sikes, Dodger and the dog, Bullseye. Fagin takes them all under his wing, along with a few more, and makes sure they are the best pickpockets in Victorian London. Until Sikes tries a job that puts them all under the thumb of the law.
I will be following the writing career of Epstein, having enjoyed this book. Sadly to say, her other two books are in eras that I do not particularly like to read about, so hoping that a future book will liken back to a time period that I do enjoy.
This book is also known as Our Rotten Hearts.
I am pretty skeptical about retellings. Seldom do I care for the changes that are made to the original story or characters. However with this book, it was not so much a retelling as it was a deeper probe and continuation into the lives that Dickens made popular.
We are reintroduced to Fagin, as an adult. Along with Nancy, Bill Sikes, Dodger and the dog, Bullseye. Fagin takes them all under his wing, along with a few more, and makes sure they are the best pickpockets in Victorian London. Until Sikes tries a job that puts them all under the thumb of the law.
I will be following the writing career of Epstein, having enjoyed this book. Sadly to say, her other two books are in eras that I do not particularly like to read about, so hoping that a future book will liken back to a time period that I do enjoy.
This book is also known as Our Rotten Hearts.
March 22, 2025
Admittedly my knowledge of Dickens Oliver Twist comes primarily from the musical version of the story so I came into this book with impressions of Fagin based mostly in the men I've known who've played that role. I finished this Fagin-based retelling with a deep appreciation for how Epstein delves into the famously anti-Semitic portrayal of a side character to make Jacob Fagin the centerpiece of a compelling Dickensian piece of historic fiction. Fagin is complicated and 3-dimensional and sympathetic. London's 19th century comes to very grim life and I better understand the conditions at the root of these criminal characters.
I'm a fan of this genre of literature that retells a famous character (real of fictional) from history - it's the right combination of familiar and revelatory to make for great reading.
I'm a fan of this genre of literature that retells a famous character (real of fictional) from history - it's the right combination of familiar and revelatory to make for great reading.
June 10, 2025
This book provides a backstory for Dickens’s character Fagin from Oliver Twist. It takes Fagin beyond the villain portrayed in the original. Epstein’s character Jacob Fagin is a flawed human with roots in poverty and loss. It portrays the reason he became a thief and mentor of child thieves. Epstein’s version of Jacob Fagin is a multidimensional believable character. It helps the reader understand his choices while not necessarily agreeing with them.
The story opens in 1838 which serves as the “present,” then flashes back to 1793, when Jacob is six years old living with his seamstress mother in an impoverished Jewish sector. When his mother dies, he must survive on the streets, dealing with poverty and Anti-semitism. It is mostly a forward-moving timeline from 1793 until it catches up to the scenario of 1838.
The author provides a note at the end to convey to readers the changes she made as compared to Oliver Twist and the reasons for a few liberties taken with the timeline. Fagin the Thief is a well-constructed novel that provides an extremely plausible rationale for why Fagin would have found himself in the situation described in Dickens’s original. It drops the reader into the ambiance of Victorian London. I found it extremely engaging. Dickens fans are sure to enjoy it.
The story opens in 1838 which serves as the “present,” then flashes back to 1793, when Jacob is six years old living with his seamstress mother in an impoverished Jewish sector. When his mother dies, he must survive on the streets, dealing with poverty and Anti-semitism. It is mostly a forward-moving timeline from 1793 until it catches up to the scenario of 1838.
The author provides a note at the end to convey to readers the changes she made as compared to Oliver Twist and the reasons for a few liberties taken with the timeline. Fagin the Thief is a well-constructed novel that provides an extremely plausible rationale for why Fagin would have found himself in the situation described in Dickens’s original. It drops the reader into the ambiance of Victorian London. I found it extremely engaging. Dickens fans are sure to enjoy it.
March 29, 2025
The narrative of this reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist told from Fagin's point-of-view opens in 1838. At that time, Fagin is an infamous thief and head of a gang of child pickpockets including young Jack Dawkins, known as the Artful Dodger, who brings runaway orphan Oliver Twist back to Fagin's home. This timeline alternates with flashbacks to the past beginning in 1797 when Jacob Fagin is a 6 year-old boy living with his widowed mother in a Jewish enclave of London. He never knew his father who was hanged for stealing before Jacob was born and he has little choice but to make his own way on the rough and dangerous streets of London soon falling in with a group of young pickpockets.
Jacob takes to stealing naturally and is mentored by one of the city's best pickpockets before striking out on his own. While still a young man, Fagin takes in Bill Sikes providing him shelter and a livelihood and later develops a friendship and partnership with Nancy who soon falls in love with Bill despite his violent temper. Oliver Twist is reduced to a cameo role in Fagin the Thief but plays a key part in setting into motion the events that lead to the tragic ending.
An enjoyable read that offers an interesting twist on a classic but can also stand on its own as a fine story even if you're not familiar with the novel Oliver Twist. In the hands of author Allison Epstein, one of literature's most notorious villains is cast in a different light by providing him with a full backstory. With the change in perspective, Fagin becomes a character who also had a tragic childhood and struggled to surivive amidst abject poverty and rampant antisemitism on the dangerous streets of London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Fagin the Thief follows the original quite closely (with a change in how it ends) yet evokes a little understanding or empathy for the hardships faced by Fagin and even Bill Sikes to a lesser extent and what made them the men that they were. Well-written and hard to put down!
Jacob takes to stealing naturally and is mentored by one of the city's best pickpockets before striking out on his own. While still a young man, Fagin takes in Bill Sikes providing him shelter and a livelihood and later develops a friendship and partnership with Nancy who soon falls in love with Bill despite his violent temper. Oliver Twist is reduced to a cameo role in Fagin the Thief but plays a key part in setting into motion the events that lead to the tragic ending.
An enjoyable read that offers an interesting twist on a classic but can also stand on its own as a fine story even if you're not familiar with the novel Oliver Twist. In the hands of author Allison Epstein, one of literature's most notorious villains is cast in a different light by providing him with a full backstory. With the change in perspective, Fagin becomes a character who also had a tragic childhood and struggled to surivive amidst abject poverty and rampant antisemitism on the dangerous streets of London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Fagin the Thief follows the original quite closely (with a change in how it ends) yet evokes a little understanding or empathy for the hardships faced by Fagin and even Bill Sikes to a lesser extent and what made them the men that they were. Well-written and hard to put down!
May 1, 2025
When Charles Dickens's father was sentenced to debtor's prison, the family sent the 12-year-old Charles to work in a blacking factory to help support the family. For an educated middle-class child, not only was this a horrific reversal of circumstances--to go to a carefree young boy to a factory worker--but also signified a terrible loss of status in Victorian England, an erasure of all of his prospects. Naturally, Dickens was completely unequipped to function in this environment, but a kind, Jewish older boy also working in the factory named Bob Fagin enabled Charles to at least keep his job by teaching him the tricks of the trade. For the kindness and friendship Fagin offered him, Dickens was later inspired to create one of the greatest villains of Victorian literature and perhaps the most unrepentantly antisemitic characters in all of what is still considered great literature. Even Shylock has more moments of humanity than Fagin.
It's not hard to see the psychology behind this--poor Bob Fagin is blamed for "tutoring" the young innocent Charles in the tools of a disreputable trade beneath his class--so it's a fascinating study of how prejudice takes root. In her epilogue, Epstein quotes from brilliant letter written by a Jewish woman rebuking Dickens-the supposed champion of the underdog, vilifying the most vulnerable members of society in Fagin-and in response to her protest Dickens did create a saintly positive Jewish character in Our Mutual Friend that no one remembers because he's so incredibly boring. Everyone remembers Fagin, however.
Thanks partly to Oliver!, however, which has a goddamned delightful portrait of the guy, Fagin continues to fascinate. Epstein's work is fan fiction of the best sort, fleshing out the life and psychology of a peripheral character not done full justice by his creator. She doesn't redeem Fagin, but she helps the reader understand him in the context of Victorian Jewish and criminal life as a survivor above all else. The book does modify the original story of Oliver Twist in ways I didn't find entirely successful in terms of suspense--my main critique of the book is that it is more of a character sketch and a memoir, and Fagin really never establishes deep enough relationships with any characters for there to be a profound emotional arc of development. He is a relatively static character, an inevitable difficulty in writing fan fiction about a secondary character. There isn't that much in terms of plot, other than the scraps of what exist of the original novel (Nancy and Bill), but as a Fagin fancier, I didn't mind too much and am very glad the book exists.
4.75*, highly recommended.
It's not hard to see the psychology behind this--poor Bob Fagin is blamed for "tutoring" the young innocent Charles in the tools of a disreputable trade beneath his class--so it's a fascinating study of how prejudice takes root. In her epilogue, Epstein quotes from brilliant letter written by a Jewish woman rebuking Dickens-the supposed champion of the underdog, vilifying the most vulnerable members of society in Fagin-and in response to her protest Dickens did create a saintly positive Jewish character in Our Mutual Friend that no one remembers because he's so incredibly boring. Everyone remembers Fagin, however.
Thanks partly to Oliver!, however, which has a goddamned delightful portrait of the guy, Fagin continues to fascinate. Epstein's work is fan fiction of the best sort, fleshing out the life and psychology of a peripheral character not done full justice by his creator. She doesn't redeem Fagin, but she helps the reader understand him in the context of Victorian Jewish and criminal life as a survivor above all else. The book does modify the original story of Oliver Twist in ways I didn't find entirely successful in terms of suspense--my main critique of the book is that it is more of a character sketch and a memoir, and Fagin really never establishes deep enough relationships with any characters for there to be a profound emotional arc of development. He is a relatively static character, an inevitable difficulty in writing fan fiction about a secondary character. There isn't that much in terms of plot, other than the scraps of what exist of the original novel (Nancy and Bill), but as a Fagin fancier, I didn't mind too much and am very glad the book exists.
4.75*, highly recommended.
March 12, 2025
I loved this! I admit I’m not an expert on Oliver Twist, I “studied” it in middle school music class, but I’m not sure that study went much beyond watching the movie and singing Food Glorious Food ad nauseam. So I can’t speak much to how Epstein’s novel follows or diverges from the characteristics and plot points put forth by Dickens, though there is a great author’s note at the end where some of this insight is shared. I do feel confident in saying that this is not fully a retelling, but more of a deep dive and exploration into the backstory of Fagin the character. I understand that Epstein has given us a much more sympathetic look at Fagin, turning Dickens' horribly antisemitic thief into a man that has been tormented by the antisemitism inflicted upon him since boyhood.
I found the characterization in this story to be top notch. Oliver Twist plays a very minor role, but the characters of Fagin, Nan, and Bill Sikes are drawn with immense detail and care. Their relationships with each other are wholly nuanced and Epstein's rendering of Victorian London is as grimy and alive as ever.
I recommend the audio, the narrator for this was great.
I found the characterization in this story to be top notch. Oliver Twist plays a very minor role, but the characters of Fagin, Nan, and Bill Sikes are drawn with immense detail and care. Their relationships with each other are wholly nuanced and Epstein's rendering of Victorian London is as grimy and alive as ever.
I recommend the audio, the narrator for this was great.
March 7, 2025
I’m not sure there is a story that has evolved more over the years in order to accommodate cultural taste than Oliver Twist.
Who could forget the cringe-y Oliver! The Musical, with its jaunty romanticization of poverty, or the far more charming but no more true to the original Disney version, Oliver and Company?
I have no issue with the reinterpretation of original material to suit current interests in general, but when it comes to Dickens’ Oliver, we have both figuratively and literally lost the plot.
And all of that made Fagin the Thief an especially good read, as it pays true homage to the spirit of Dickens’ original work while still finding its own perspective.
Fagin isn’t exactly a mysterious character in the original version of the story. He’s pretty transparent, so it’s not as though we feel as though we’ve never known his perspective until now. But Epstein invented a backstory that makes that perspective feel so much more rich and nuanced while still true to character, and that’s the beauty of this novel.
In some ways, it’s a critical study of an historically classic character, in other ways it’s a reinvention of that character. It’s also an interesting spin on the story as a whole, giving most of Dickens’ original characters a slightly different but still true to form fate in the end.
Epstein always excels at historical context and setting in her novels, and it’s exceptionally well rendered here. The sense of place is outstanding: Dickensian London at its darkest and bleakest, yet also its most evocative and (in a way) its most oddly beautiful.
In all, a lovely tribute to Dickens (and yes, I do think it suits to read the original before reading this for maximum understanding and enjoyment), as well as a truly original take on a classic.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Who could forget the cringe-y Oliver! The Musical, with its jaunty romanticization of poverty, or the far more charming but no more true to the original Disney version, Oliver and Company?
I have no issue with the reinterpretation of original material to suit current interests in general, but when it comes to Dickens’ Oliver, we have both figuratively and literally lost the plot.
And all of that made Fagin the Thief an especially good read, as it pays true homage to the spirit of Dickens’ original work while still finding its own perspective.
Fagin isn’t exactly a mysterious character in the original version of the story. He’s pretty transparent, so it’s not as though we feel as though we’ve never known his perspective until now. But Epstein invented a backstory that makes that perspective feel so much more rich and nuanced while still true to character, and that’s the beauty of this novel.
In some ways, it’s a critical study of an historically classic character, in other ways it’s a reinvention of that character. It’s also an interesting spin on the story as a whole, giving most of Dickens’ original characters a slightly different but still true to form fate in the end.
Epstein always excels at historical context and setting in her novels, and it’s exceptionally well rendered here. The sense of place is outstanding: Dickensian London at its darkest and bleakest, yet also its most evocative and (in a way) its most oddly beautiful.
In all, a lovely tribute to Dickens (and yes, I do think it suits to read the original before reading this for maximum understanding and enjoyment), as well as a truly original take on a classic.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 28, 2025
5⭐️
As a young child, my aunt made the mistake of introducing me to the musical Oliver!. I was instantly hooked. It wasn't Oliver I was drawn to but Bill and Nancy, Fagin and Doger. I spent hours alone playing out what today would be called fanfiction, pretending I was the child of Bill and Nancy and had fallen in love with Doger. My poor family was forced to watch it on repeat almost weekly. They brought me to see the play performed live, and as a highlight of my young life, my mother even took me to England for a meet and greet with Jack Wild (actor who played Doger)
As a pre-teen, my father, done with my romatasicizing of Bill and Fagin, put his grandfather's copy of Dicken's Oliver Twist in my small hands. Once again, I was mesmerized only this time with the author. Quickly, I devoured stories such as The Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Bleak House, and The Chimes, among many others. All while holding a very special place in my heart for Oliver Twist.
The author has definitely put her own spin on the yarn yet pays Homage to Dickens in the best possible ways. I truly felt myself back among familiar friends and old acquaintances.
Retelling of classic literature from a different pov is one of my favorite tropes to read. Unfortunately, I find that oftentimes, the books fall short. Not only do you have to capture the essence of a beloved character, already fleshed out and brought to life, but also the feel of the original author. Epstein has accomplished both here with style and grace while adding her own flair that only adds to the story instead of subtracting or completely rewriting.
As a true Fagin lover, this was one of my most anticipated reads for the year. I was apprehensive going in, but my fears were quickly diminished as I flew back into the era and lives I knew and loved.
All My old friends are here. Each with their own back story. While tales can not be woven to unvillinize Fagin or Sikes, she does a brilliant job of allowing the reader to find empathy for them. No one is all bad. Everyone has that spark of good in them. Be them thrives, villains, or murderes. Epstein has humanized some of literatures most notorious crooks.
As a young child, my aunt made the mistake of introducing me to the musical Oliver!. I was instantly hooked. It wasn't Oliver I was drawn to but Bill and Nancy, Fagin and Doger. I spent hours alone playing out what today would be called fanfiction, pretending I was the child of Bill and Nancy and had fallen in love with Doger. My poor family was forced to watch it on repeat almost weekly. They brought me to see the play performed live, and as a highlight of my young life, my mother even took me to England for a meet and greet with Jack Wild (actor who played Doger)
As a pre-teen, my father, done with my romatasicizing of Bill and Fagin, put his grandfather's copy of Dicken's Oliver Twist in my small hands. Once again, I was mesmerized only this time with the author. Quickly, I devoured stories such as The Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Bleak House, and The Chimes, among many others. All while holding a very special place in my heart for Oliver Twist.
The author has definitely put her own spin on the yarn yet pays Homage to Dickens in the best possible ways. I truly felt myself back among familiar friends and old acquaintances.
Retelling of classic literature from a different pov is one of my favorite tropes to read. Unfortunately, I find that oftentimes, the books fall short. Not only do you have to capture the essence of a beloved character, already fleshed out and brought to life, but also the feel of the original author. Epstein has accomplished both here with style and grace while adding her own flair that only adds to the story instead of subtracting or completely rewriting.
As a true Fagin lover, this was one of my most anticipated reads for the year. I was apprehensive going in, but my fears were quickly diminished as I flew back into the era and lives I knew and loved.
All My old friends are here. Each with their own back story. While tales can not be woven to unvillinize Fagin or Sikes, she does a brilliant job of allowing the reader to find empathy for them. No one is all bad. Everyone has that spark of good in them. Be them thrives, villains, or murderes. Epstein has humanized some of literatures most notorious crooks.
April 6, 2025
best if you’ve read oliver twist but more than strong enough to function as a standalone novel, fagin the thief delivers a colorful origin story for the dickens antagonist. while fagin is little more than an antisemitic caricature in the original novel, in epstein’s hands he is a complicated, fascinating character—deeply flawed, yet sympathetic and unexpectedly generous in his own way. she draws on both dickens and historical research to tell the story of a jewish man born and raised in poverty, following him from childhood to middle age.
i’m fussy about classics retellings, but fagin the thief was a rewarding read as both a historical fiction novel and as an “exercise in imaginative empathy,” exploring the history and motives of a traditionally unsympathetic character. it’s clear how much epstein cared about telling this story thoughtfully. i took off one star because while fagin is a fully realized character here, several side characters are rather flat and i wish we could have seen more nuance from them as well.
arc provided by netgalley and doubleday in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 4.0/5.0 stars
i’m fussy about classics retellings, but fagin the thief was a rewarding read as both a historical fiction novel and as an “exercise in imaginative empathy,” exploring the history and motives of a traditionally unsympathetic character. it’s clear how much epstein cared about telling this story thoughtfully. i took off one star because while fagin is a fully realized character here, several side characters are rather flat and i wish we could have seen more nuance from them as well.
arc provided by netgalley and doubleday in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 4.0/5.0 stars
June 3, 2025
As a big Dickens fan, and being Jewish, I am interested in a new novel by a Jewish author rewriting the antisemitic portrayal of the character Fagin from Oliver Twist. What would that look like here? Epstein writes in her author's note that she wanted to find a middle ground in stripping the antisemitism away, between dealing with this character in a sanitizing method that makes him something whimsical or harmless while still Jewish, or keeping him a villain while removing the Jewishness from the character.
Fagin is referred to as "the Jew" over 300 times in Dickens' original version but never given a first name, so as the first step to humanizing the character Epstein gives him the name Jacob. Born into a poor Jewish neighborhood of Victorian London to a mother widowed by the hanging of her husband for unstated crimes, he is intelligent but an unwilling pupil to the local rabbi and uninterested in the ways of making an honest living available to him. He is taught the tricks of the pickpocket trade and used by a professional criminal in the Gentile world, but when his mother dies and him 15 years old he is abandoned and left to survive as best he can alone in the streets.
This backstory is a logical explanation for how the character might come to feel some sense of empathy with discarded children, to take them into his home and teach them to survive as petty thieves - benefitting from their crimes himself, of course. For my taste he is made a little too sentimental about it, though. For instance, Oliver Twist appears on the scene as Bill Sikes is pressuring Jacob to give him a child thief to help with a dangerous house robbery. The text says, "Jacob cannot save his boys from everything, cannot save them from most things, but he can at least give Oliver one night. Tonight, he will cook supper as best he can..." and the text then imagines a heartwarming scene of domestic warmth and affection unfolding over the evening. Although, overdone sentimentality is certainly in the Dickens style!
In her author's note Epstein says she chose "Jacob" for Fagin as a fit with his trickster namesake who stole his brother's birthright; this is apt although I do wish Jacob would have had a little more "Israel" in him. After trying to bargain with God for his mother's life as she lay dying, Jacob no more tries to wrestle with God or his religious inheritance until the final pages, as Bill Sikes is due to be hanged, he prays for the first time in almost four decades:
That is a good scene! Epstein also convincingly portrays Bill Sikes as a damaged but also damaging man, and Jacob's complicated bond with him. In providing additional complexity and humanity to Dickens' characters Epstein has written an intriguing book.
Fagin is referred to as "the Jew" over 300 times in Dickens' original version but never given a first name, so as the first step to humanizing the character Epstein gives him the name Jacob. Born into a poor Jewish neighborhood of Victorian London to a mother widowed by the hanging of her husband for unstated crimes, he is intelligent but an unwilling pupil to the local rabbi and uninterested in the ways of making an honest living available to him. He is taught the tricks of the pickpocket trade and used by a professional criminal in the Gentile world, but when his mother dies and him 15 years old he is abandoned and left to survive as best he can alone in the streets.
This backstory is a logical explanation for how the character might come to feel some sense of empathy with discarded children, to take them into his home and teach them to survive as petty thieves - benefitting from their crimes himself, of course. For my taste he is made a little too sentimental about it, though. For instance, Oliver Twist appears on the scene as Bill Sikes is pressuring Jacob to give him a child thief to help with a dangerous house robbery. The text says, "Jacob cannot save his boys from everything, cannot save them from most things, but he can at least give Oliver one night. Tonight, he will cook supper as best he can..." and the text then imagines a heartwarming scene of domestic warmth and affection unfolding over the evening. Although, overdone sentimentality is certainly in the Dickens style!
In her author's note Epstein says she chose "Jacob" for Fagin as a fit with his trickster namesake who stole his brother's birthright; this is apt although I do wish Jacob would have had a little more "Israel" in him. After trying to bargain with God for his mother's life as she lay dying, Jacob no more tries to wrestle with God or his religious inheritance until the final pages, as Bill Sikes is due to be hanged, he prays for the first time in almost four decades:
He has never said this particular prayer aloud - his first occasion to use it, the death of his mother, was also the occasion of his severance from God - but the words come nonetheless, close at hand when they are needed. They have always been there, in his bones and his blood, in the cheaply bound books he brought away from his mother's house. Maybe Leah is the one speaking the words, not him. He doesn't know why else God might listen to anything he has to say.
That is a good scene! Epstein also convincingly portrays Bill Sikes as a damaged but also damaging man, and Jacob's complicated bond with him. In providing additional complexity and humanity to Dickens' characters Epstein has written an intriguing book.
April 16, 2025
I enjoyed the perspective of the story told by Fagin. How desperate his childhood was, how he suffered losses of everyone he loved through his life. And finally the relationship between himself, bill Sykes and Nancy. The little cameos of the original child thieves from Dickens story was a true delight.
If you enjoy the Oliver twist story I think you'll really enjoy this too
If you enjoy the Oliver twist story I think you'll really enjoy this too
September 10, 2025
I probably shouldn’t read these character reimagining stories, because they always end up pissing me off. I despise what Allison Epstein did with the character of Fagin. 😡 However, I cannot completely trash this book, because it’s very well written and researched. Many people gave this book five stars, and I understand why.
I hated this book, though, and this review is a rant. 😡 So be warned. There are a couple of spoilers.
When the book starts, it pulls you right in. I was impressed. Epstein is a visceral writer, and she captures London in the early 1800s extremely well. She brings Fagin’s childhood to life as he grows up poor in a Jewish district. Not to mention her Fagin is a complex character, and I was loving this book. However, the older Fagin got, the more disgruntled I became.
Why, you might ask?
It’s because Epstein’s Fagin is a Simp. He never romances a girl, never learns to fight, and never pulls off an amazing act of thievery. In fact, the most substantial relationship Fagin has is with Bill Sikes. Yes, Bill Sikes, the one who brutally bludgeoned his girlfriend Nancy to death when he thought she had betrayed him. At the end of the book, Fagin laments letting poor Bill down and says he loves him. 🤮 I was like What? Are we talking about the same character?
Of course, to do this, Epstein couldn’t leave Bill the way he was. She had to redeem him and make him nicer. Bill doesn’t beat Nancy to death. He loves her and considers her his other half. When he’s younger, Bill weeps to Fagin after his cruel father tries to take him back. Bill just had a hard life. That’s why he's so mean. 🤮
In fact, this is Epstein’s main theme. Poverty and degradation might lead to criminal behavior, and we should be understanding of that. This is similar to Dickens’ theme, which was a condemnation of people who don’t offer charity to the poor and the vulnerable. However, Dickens did not excuse people who commit crimes. After all, numerous people who are devastatingly poor don't break the law and hurt people.
Epstein wrote in her after notes that I don’t know whether, as Dickens says, there are “some insensible and callous natures, that do become utterly and incurably bad.” But if writing fiction is an exercise in imaginative empathy, I think we at least have to ask why.
This is her excuse for destroying one of the greatest villains ever created. Bill is a dark archetype that shows what each of Fagin’s young thieves could become. He gives Oliver Twist its bite. I didn’t want a nicer Bill, and I was irritated that most of this book was a Fagin and Bill Sikes bromance. Epstein wanted to explain why Bill is so mean. Yet I couldn't care less. Bill is mean because he wants power. That’s all there is to it, and by diminishing his character, it diminishes the other characters, especially Nancy. That’s because Nancy is astonishingly brave, and she sacrifices herself by trying to help poor Oliver.
I know that the original Fagin from ‘Oliver Twist’ was a villain and had a cornucopia of bad traits. He is even directly responsible for Nancy’s death. But Fagin has now become so much more than that. He’s an eclectic character who’s taken on bits and pieces from every play, every movie, and every actor who has ever played him. Ron Moody, who played Fagin in Oliver! made Fagin hilarious. Forever, I will be singing, "Reviewing the Situation.” Moody also removed many of the unpleasant, stereotypical Jewish traits that Fagin had. After all, Moody was Jewish himself. Yet my favorite Fagin was Robert Lindsay, whom I’ve had a crush on ever since I saw him as Benedict in “Much Ado About Nothing.
Fagin gives off an aura of audaciousness. He’s educated, literate, and a smooth talker, calling everyone my dear. He moves with a certain grace and nimbleness that shows he's quick on his feet. He somehow manages Bill Sikes, which is not easy to do. He also gives the impression that he was quite the thief when he was younger. Yes, he’s old and grizzled, and living in squalor by the time Oliver Twist meets him. Yet I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t always that way. Something knocked him to the ground. Maybe he was sent to prison for a few years. This was why I wanted to read this book. I wanted to read Fagin the Thief: A young charismatic shyster who mesmerizes people while he robs them blind, who’s daring enough to pull off grand larceny, and who sweet-talks women into inviting him into their bedchamber.
Instead, I read “Fagin the Simp.”
This book pissed me off: 😡 Two Stars, but I had to give three stars for excellent writing.
I hated this book, though, and this review is a rant. 😡 So be warned. There are a couple of spoilers.
When the book starts, it pulls you right in. I was impressed. Epstein is a visceral writer, and she captures London in the early 1800s extremely well. She brings Fagin’s childhood to life as he grows up poor in a Jewish district. Not to mention her Fagin is a complex character, and I was loving this book. However, the older Fagin got, the more disgruntled I became.
Why, you might ask?
It’s because Epstein’s Fagin is a Simp. He never romances a girl, never learns to fight, and never pulls off an amazing act of thievery. In fact, the most substantial relationship Fagin has is with Bill Sikes. Yes, Bill Sikes, the one who brutally bludgeoned his girlfriend Nancy to death when he thought she had betrayed him. At the end of the book, Fagin laments letting poor Bill down and says he loves him. 🤮 I was like What? Are we talking about the same character?
Of course, to do this, Epstein couldn’t leave Bill the way he was. She had to redeem him and make him nicer. Bill doesn’t beat Nancy to death. He loves her and considers her his other half. When he’s younger, Bill weeps to Fagin after his cruel father tries to take him back. Bill just had a hard life. That’s why he's so mean. 🤮
In fact, this is Epstein’s main theme. Poverty and degradation might lead to criminal behavior, and we should be understanding of that. This is similar to Dickens’ theme, which was a condemnation of people who don’t offer charity to the poor and the vulnerable. However, Dickens did not excuse people who commit crimes. After all, numerous people who are devastatingly poor don't break the law and hurt people.
Epstein wrote in her after notes that I don’t know whether, as Dickens says, there are “some insensible and callous natures, that do become utterly and incurably bad.” But if writing fiction is an exercise in imaginative empathy, I think we at least have to ask why.
This is her excuse for destroying one of the greatest villains ever created. Bill is a dark archetype that shows what each of Fagin’s young thieves could become. He gives Oliver Twist its bite. I didn’t want a nicer Bill, and I was irritated that most of this book was a Fagin and Bill Sikes bromance. Epstein wanted to explain why Bill is so mean. Yet I couldn't care less. Bill is mean because he wants power. That’s all there is to it, and by diminishing his character, it diminishes the other characters, especially Nancy. That’s because Nancy is astonishingly brave, and she sacrifices herself by trying to help poor Oliver.
I know that the original Fagin from ‘Oliver Twist’ was a villain and had a cornucopia of bad traits. He is even directly responsible for Nancy’s death. But Fagin has now become so much more than that. He’s an eclectic character who’s taken on bits and pieces from every play, every movie, and every actor who has ever played him. Ron Moody, who played Fagin in Oliver! made Fagin hilarious. Forever, I will be singing, "Reviewing the Situation.” Moody also removed many of the unpleasant, stereotypical Jewish traits that Fagin had. After all, Moody was Jewish himself. Yet my favorite Fagin was Robert Lindsay, whom I’ve had a crush on ever since I saw him as Benedict in “Much Ado About Nothing.
Fagin gives off an aura of audaciousness. He’s educated, literate, and a smooth talker, calling everyone my dear. He moves with a certain grace and nimbleness that shows he's quick on his feet. He somehow manages Bill Sikes, which is not easy to do. He also gives the impression that he was quite the thief when he was younger. Yes, he’s old and grizzled, and living in squalor by the time Oliver Twist meets him. Yet I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t always that way. Something knocked him to the ground. Maybe he was sent to prison for a few years. This was why I wanted to read this book. I wanted to read Fagin the Thief: A young charismatic shyster who mesmerizes people while he robs them blind, who’s daring enough to pull off grand larceny, and who sweet-talks women into inviting him into their bedchamber.
Instead, I read “Fagin the Simp.”
This book pissed me off: 😡 Two Stars, but I had to give three stars for excellent writing.
June 16, 2025
Full disclosure, I haven't read Oliver Twist, or even seen the musical Oliver!, though thanks to Lakewood Little Theater, I still remember all of the words to "Food, Glorious Food," but I didn't feel left behind when reading Fagin The Thief. Even better, while I don't usually enjoy character studies, this book is beautifully done. Epstein is more interested in what makes Fagin, Fagin, why Bill Sikes does what he does, why Nancy can love Bill anyway. It is a beautifully read in audio book, and is a book that will stay with me.
March 12, 2025
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. This is the type of book that I wish was two, three, or four times the length. It re-creates Victorian, London, beautifully, mirrors, the Dickens original, and it’s a fine and satisfying read. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews