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Dodge & Twist: A Sequel To Oliver Twist - TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Twelve years on from the events of OLIVER TWIST, a once-more penniless Oliver is back on the streets of London... When a meeting with the now grown-up Artful Dodger leads Oliver into a scheme to regain his money, he begins to wonder just how accidental the meeting was, as friends and foes from his past begin to mount up in a plan to steal the fabled Koh-I-Noor diamond from the 1851 Great Exhibition.
As the heist progresses, Oliver is pulled back into a world he hoped to escape from a decade earlier, a world of deception and betrayal, where every ally is a potential enemy and where his so called 'friend' Dodger is speaking to the ghost of the long dead Fagin - and planning his revenge on Oliver.
Oliver finds himself in a maze of lies and half truths while escaping the police, the East End underworld and Dodger's own violent plans - visiting his once home town and workhouse, Fagin's Saffron Hill den, Sowerberry's Undertakers, the British Museum and Newgate Prison in the process, as he faces his own demons, including the now destitute Mister Bumble, his one time bully Noah Claypole, and his guilt over the death of Nancy, a decade earlier...
In a situation that can only end with a noose around his neck, Oliver must find a way out of this nightmare - or forever stay a pawn in a game far bigger than that of the people around him, a game he must win at all costs...
As the heist progresses, Oliver is pulled back into a world he hoped to escape from a decade earlier, a world of deception and betrayal, where every ally is a potential enemy and where his so called 'friend' Dodger is speaking to the ghost of the long dead Fagin - and planning his revenge on Oliver.
Oliver finds himself in a maze of lies and half truths while escaping the police, the East End underworld and Dodger's own violent plans - visiting his once home town and workhouse, Fagin's Saffron Hill den, Sowerberry's Undertakers, the British Museum and Newgate Prison in the process, as he faces his own demons, including the now destitute Mister Bumble, his one time bully Noah Claypole, and his guilt over the death of Nancy, a decade earlier...
In a situation that can only end with a noose around his neck, Oliver must find a way out of this nightmare - or forever stay a pawn in a game far bigger than that of the people around him, a game he must win at all costs...
Paperback
First published September 13, 2011
41 people are currently reading
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About the author
Tony Lee
518 books47 followersA New York Times Best-selling Graphic Novelist, Tony Lee was born in West London, UK in 1970. Informed by a teacher that he had a comic book style of writing, (a comment meant more as an insult), Tony decided that one day he would write for comics.
Tony has written for a variety of mediums including Radio 4, The BBC, commerical television in both the UK and US, magazines and both local and national newspapers. He has also written several award winning local radio campaigns. In 1991 he wrote for a small press comics publisher, of which only one project, The Cost of Miracles in Comic Speculator News was ever printed, and remains his first printed commercial comic work.
Moving away from comics, he went back into trade journalism and media marketing/creation. His small press magazine Burnt Offerings was a minor seller on both sides of the Atlantic, and was the first esoteric magazine to interview mainstream creators like Terry Pratchett and Pat Mills.
Since returning to comics in 2002, he has written for a variety of publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics/Zuda, Games Workshop, Panini Comics, Titan Publishing, AAM/Markosia Enterprises, Rebellion/2000ad and IDW Publishing amongst others, writing a variety of creator owned titles and licenses that include X-Men, Spider Man, Doctor Who, Starship Troopers, Wallace & Gromit and Shrek.
He is the writer of the ongoing Doctor Who series of comics from IDW, beginning in July 2009, and his award nominated, creator-owned miniseries Hope Falls was collected by AAM/Markosia in May 2009. His next book with them, From The Pages Of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula': Harker, was released in November 2009 to critical acclaim.
Added to this, Tony adapted Pride & Prejudice & Zombies into a graphic novel for Del Rey Publishing, with art by Cliff Richards - this was a New York Times #1 Bestselling Paperback Graphic Novel for May 2010 - he is also adapting Anthony Horowitz's Power of Five series into graphic format for Walker Books, the first - Raven's Gate is due out in late 2010, and he has adapted four Horowitz Horror books with Dan Boultwood for Hachette Children's Books.
His other book with Walker Books, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood (drawn by Sam Hart) was released in 2009 and has already been awarded a Junior Library Guild: Fall 2009 Selection, and 'best for 2010' awards from both the American Library Association and the New York Public Library in the USA, among others. In March 2010 it was announced that it was also a finalist for the Children's Choice Book Awards. The next in the 'Heroes & Heroines' series, Excalibur: The Legend Of King Arthur by Tony Lee & Sam Hart is scheduled for March 2011.
Outside of comics he is writing several books for children.
Tony is represented by Julian Friedmann of the Blake Friedmann Literary, TV and Film Agency.
Tony is also an accomplished Bard and performer, and has held the High Bard chair of the East Sussex Broomstick Rally on several occasions. His lecture Creating Gods for fun and Profit and his series of lectures on Bards and Ritual Magic were received to critical acclaim, and he still lectures occasionally in London, the Midlands and Sussex. As a Covent Garden Street Performer in the 90's, he performed 'The Scarlet Blade' Street Theatre show at the Edinburgh Festival and at locations across the UK, convincing members of the public to act out an insane pantomime for his amusement.
Added to this Tony is an accomplished storyteller and lecturer on writing, and has performed at libraries, events and schools around the world including the 2009 Edinburgh International Book Festival, a 2009 tour of India for the British Council, and in 2003 around the Wadi Rum bedouin campfire in Jordan.
Tony currently lives in London with his fiancée, Tracy.
from: http://www.tonylee.co.uk
Tony has written for a variety of mediums including Radio 4, The BBC, commerical television in both the UK and US, magazines and both local and national newspapers. He has also written several award winning local radio campaigns. In 1991 he wrote for a small press comics publisher, of which only one project, The Cost of Miracles in Comic Speculator News was ever printed, and remains his first printed commercial comic work.
Moving away from comics, he went back into trade journalism and media marketing/creation. His small press magazine Burnt Offerings was a minor seller on both sides of the Atlantic, and was the first esoteric magazine to interview mainstream creators like Terry Pratchett and Pat Mills.
Since returning to comics in 2002, he has written for a variety of publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics/Zuda, Games Workshop, Panini Comics, Titan Publishing, AAM/Markosia Enterprises, Rebellion/2000ad and IDW Publishing amongst others, writing a variety of creator owned titles and licenses that include X-Men, Spider Man, Doctor Who, Starship Troopers, Wallace & Gromit and Shrek.
He is the writer of the ongoing Doctor Who series of comics from IDW, beginning in July 2009, and his award nominated, creator-owned miniseries Hope Falls was collected by AAM/Markosia in May 2009. His next book with them, From The Pages Of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula': Harker, was released in November 2009 to critical acclaim.
Added to this, Tony adapted Pride & Prejudice & Zombies into a graphic novel for Del Rey Publishing, with art by Cliff Richards - this was a New York Times #1 Bestselling Paperback Graphic Novel for May 2010 - he is also adapting Anthony Horowitz's Power of Five series into graphic format for Walker Books, the first - Raven's Gate is due out in late 2010, and he has adapted four Horowitz Horror books with Dan Boultwood for Hachette Children's Books.
His other book with Walker Books, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood (drawn by Sam Hart) was released in 2009 and has already been awarded a Junior Library Guild: Fall 2009 Selection, and 'best for 2010' awards from both the American Library Association and the New York Public Library in the USA, among others. In March 2010 it was announced that it was also a finalist for the Children's Choice Book Awards. The next in the 'Heroes & Heroines' series, Excalibur: The Legend Of King Arthur by Tony Lee & Sam Hart is scheduled for March 2011.
Outside of comics he is writing several books for children.
Tony is represented by Julian Friedmann of the Blake Friedmann Literary, TV and Film Agency.
Tony is also an accomplished Bard and performer, and has held the High Bard chair of the East Sussex Broomstick Rally on several occasions. His lecture Creating Gods for fun and Profit and his series of lectures on Bards and Ritual Magic were received to critical acclaim, and he still lectures occasionally in London, the Midlands and Sussex. As a Covent Garden Street Performer in the 90's, he performed 'The Scarlet Blade' Street Theatre show at the Edinburgh Festival and at locations across the UK, convincing members of the public to act out an insane pantomime for his amusement.
Added to this Tony is an accomplished storyteller and lecturer on writing, and has performed at libraries, events and schools around the world including the 2009 Edinburgh International Book Festival, a 2009 tour of India for the British Council, and in 2003 around the Wadi Rum bedouin campfire in Jordan.
Tony currently lives in London with his fiancée, Tracy.
from: http://www.tonylee.co.uk
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
August 2, 2020
I listened to the Audible Original edition. This is an extremely convoluted crime story about the adult Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. Oliver has returned to London to claim an inheritance and Dodger involves him in an attempted theft. The reference in the blurb to Guy Ritchie isn’t really out of place because the plot is overly complicated and some of the voices employed in the audiobook are virtually unintelligible. This is solely dialogue, so it’s more a radio play than it is an audiobook. I enjoy listening to plays, but I am not a fan of the use of sound effects. The ending sets up a sequel, however I am undecided whether I will listen to it.
May 1, 2022
That boy, Oliver, is an imposter.
Oliver Twist ~~ Charles Dickens
Dodge & Twist, a sequel to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist ~~ a sequel no one asked for and no one needed ...
As a stand alone, this might have been OKAY, but as a sequel to Oliver Twist, not so much. It's not very Dickensian, and I highly doubt Dickens would have been pleased.
Had the ending not been so rushed and confusing I would have given it a 3.
Oliver Twist ~~ Charles Dickens
Dodge & Twist, a sequel to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist ~~ a sequel no one asked for and no one needed ...
As a stand alone, this might have been OKAY, but as a sequel to Oliver Twist, not so much. It's not very Dickensian, and I highly doubt Dickens would have been pleased.
Had the ending not been so rushed and confusing I would have given it a 3.
February 14, 2019
Well, this is a well put together production. A cast of actors puts on what's essentially a radio play bringing Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger back together twelve years later. It makes sense that the next step for a colorful character like the Dodger would be a jewel heist. And since you can hardly revisit Oliver Twist without Fagin, the idea of ghosts is borrowed from Dickens other work. Of course, we really don't know if the ghosts are real or just in the character's heads. Much effort is made, by the twists and turns of the plot, to walk Oliver back through every place he ever visited in the novel.
We are left constantly guessing about what's really going on, with one reveal after another, which brings me to another point: this honestly didn't feel very Dickensian to me. The story was very fast paced and the characters seemed lacking much of the color that Dickens had infused into them in the novel. When it comes to Oliver himself, that isn't saying much, but it just felt like something was missing. Maybe it was because it was presented as a classic radio play and there was no narrator. This meant there were no atmospheric descriptions of either the settings or the characters. We were left to guess about everything based on dialogue and sound effects which, when the action became intense, could be rather confusing for someone who didn't grow up listening to radio plays. I suspect, in these kind of productions, that the characters are made to say things they wouldn't in a book just to compensate. It sure felt like that to me, in any case. In a movie we have the visuals to make up for the lack of a narrator, but not here.
I'm not really knowledgeable enough on the Victorian era to put my finger with certainty on any specific anachronisms, but it all felt a bit too slick and modern in its sensibilities to be a true child of that dusty old edifice that Charles Dickens built a century and a half ago. I can't complain, though, as an audible member I got it for free and it was not without its charms.
We are left constantly guessing about what's really going on, with one reveal after another, which brings me to another point: this honestly didn't feel very Dickensian to me. The story was very fast paced and the characters seemed lacking much of the color that Dickens had infused into them in the novel. When it comes to Oliver himself, that isn't saying much, but it just felt like something was missing. Maybe it was because it was presented as a classic radio play and there was no narrator. This meant there were no atmospheric descriptions of either the settings or the characters. We were left to guess about everything based on dialogue and sound effects which, when the action became intense, could be rather confusing for someone who didn't grow up listening to radio plays. I suspect, in these kind of productions, that the characters are made to say things they wouldn't in a book just to compensate. It sure felt like that to me, in any case. In a movie we have the visuals to make up for the lack of a narrator, but not here.
I'm not really knowledgeable enough on the Victorian era to put my finger with certainty on any specific anachronisms, but it all felt a bit too slick and modern in its sensibilities to be a true child of that dusty old edifice that Charles Dickens built a century and a half ago. I can't complain, though, as an audible member I got it for free and it was not without its charms.
June 13, 2022
It's hard to express my love for this. On the one hand, I can see why people would not love it, but on the other hand, it is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had since watching Dead Poets Society. I am currently reading Oliver Twist for the first time. however I am very well versed with the story (having been read the abridged version my whole childhood and absolutely loving the 1968 movie musical). It reads very like fan fiction and it did not seem like the original writing. if you are a diehard lover of Dickens prose this may not be for you, (although it retains all of his sarcastic humor). If (like me) the Artful Dodger was your favorite character in the original story, I highly recommend this. The story itself I enjoyed very much, it reminded me of an episode of Sherlock, it starts as good but not fantastic, then the plot gets up and started. My favorite characters were Dodger, Betsy and Ezra. A plus is that Tony Lee brings in characters from other novels, such as Scroge and Marley. All around this is a quick easy read, quite enjoyable if you have a long road trip. The characters are great, the writing is not Dickinson, but still lovely. Plus, it's included with Audible membership!
February 8, 2019
This was free on audible so I gave it a try. The voices, acting and background noises were amazing. A plus but I found the plot difficult to follow with too much action and not enough info to follow.
March 14, 2019
Free audible original.
Pretty sure I've never read Oliver Twist but I have seen a movie about it. That being said, I did enjoy this little sequel. It was highly entertaining, interesting, and a short book to blaze through.
The characters in this were so good. A lot was happening in this book and I was constantly being whirled around in this audio. I had no idea who to trust and who not to. The ending was surprisingly just okay.. I was a little bit disappointed with how it ended but that's just cause it was so fast paced throughout the entire thing.
So glad that I listened to it and now I'm kind of intrigued to dive into the classic.
Pretty sure I've never read Oliver Twist but I have seen a movie about it. That being said, I did enjoy this little sequel. It was highly entertaining, interesting, and a short book to blaze through.
The characters in this were so good. A lot was happening in this book and I was constantly being whirled around in this audio. I had no idea who to trust and who not to. The ending was surprisingly just okay.. I was a little bit disappointed with how it ended but that's just cause it was so fast paced throughout the entire thing.
So glad that I listened to it and now I'm kind of intrigued to dive into the classic.
February 11, 2019
An Oliver twist adventure that takes place 12 years after Dickens original. Tony Lee has crafted a surprisingly gripping adventure with lots of action that will keep the reader engaged to the very end. The superb multi-voiced cast really brings it to life. However the annoying Fagin’s ghost plot device kept it from being a four-star read in my opinion.
March 2, 2019
This was a bit of fun that passed an afternoon at work. Great narration by many many great English actors. A follow up to a story that we all know and love
May 15, 2019
So Ollie is in London for about 2 minutes before he runs into everyone he used to know plus to siblings of those who are dead. Oy vey. This story is silly but has its moments and the ending is good. I am also all for Dodger's super villain MO and him talking to a ghost, it was vastly entertaining. The haste isn't anything like 'Oceans Eleven' like the synopsis says, so don't be fooled into reading it for that, and instead read it for closer on the characters from the original.
May 3, 2019
If you've ever wondered what happened to the Artful Dodger and Oliver Twist, the two orphans from Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, wonder no more. Tony Lee has given us a delightful story of what happened to them and a few others.
Twelve years after Oliver left the seedy side of London when he was adopted, he finds himself back there. He is looking into his inheritance, the has mysteriously disappeared. He happens up the Artful Dodger. Unbeknownst to Oliver, but Dodger has plans for Oliver.
The story has a little of everything, a diamond heist, revenge and a little insanity...possibly.
Twelve years after Oliver left the seedy side of London when he was adopted, he finds himself back there. He is looking into his inheritance, the has mysteriously disappeared. He happens up the Artful Dodger. Unbeknownst to Oliver, but Dodger has plans for Oliver.
The story has a little of everything, a diamond heist, revenge and a little insanity...possibly.
July 20, 2020
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this audible freebie but what I got was a few days of fun listening and a walk down memory lane. This is the story of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger twenty years after the infamous book was written by Charles Dickens.
The sound effects are terrific, the voices spot-on (a whole cast of characters performs this story), and the story complex and interesting.
Definitely worth picking up if you want a few hours of exciting entertainment.
The sound effects are terrific, the voices spot-on (a whole cast of characters performs this story), and the story complex and interesting.
Definitely worth picking up if you want a few hours of exciting entertainment.
September 1, 2023
August 2023
Audiobook edition
4h 56m 1.3x speed
I don't like the whole auto play next thing they've added to audible. That's for music not audiobooks. Don't rush me.
I listened to the dramatized version of Oliver Twist last year so I was curious about this one. From the start it seemed convoluted and an excuse to break the characters out for a new generation. The heist has gone from handkerchiefs and pick pocketing to a diamond heist. Dodge is back to head the heist with an ulterior motive. Nancy's legacy is her sister. Charlie is on the otherside of the law now and Noah Claypole is worse than what he was before. Add in Fagin's voice in Dodge's head and it gets bizarre. Stealing a diamond belonging to the queen? Never going to happen.
From the start, Oliver is already roped in and playing the game after his inheritance paperwork goes walkies. From there it's Dodge, Oliver, Noah and Betsy in to steal a diamond. You've got Dodge as the new Fagin and Noah as the new Bill Sykes, with a much darker figure in the background. Oliver has grown to be sarcastic with a bitter chip on his shoulder towards Noah and Mr Bumble.
The further the story gets, the more it's clear things aren't what they seem. Dodge is torn, Betsy and Oliver get on and either Noah or Oliver is going to kill each other. It feels like how they would be as adults. Dodge is clever, masterminding the whole thing every step of the way. Oliver is no longer naïve or innocent and has a few anger issues to work out. There's violence, death, no one making the theft public and redemption. Plays along with themes of suicide as Dodge decides he needs to die.
Tied in with that is Fagin's secrets. What he's left behind. The names for Dodge's and Charlie's parents, along with schemes from his biological father. It was truly an immersive story. The ending was bittersweet, Oliver and Jack parting ways. The ending did feel a bit of cop out. It was one of those it's not over yet ones. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see these two tackle whatever crimes Oliver's father was into. It just took the feeling of a goodbye away.
Audiobook edition
4h 56m 1.3x speed
I don't like the whole auto play next thing they've added to audible. That's for music not audiobooks. Don't rush me.
I listened to the dramatized version of Oliver Twist last year so I was curious about this one. From the start it seemed convoluted and an excuse to break the characters out for a new generation. The heist has gone from handkerchiefs and pick pocketing to a diamond heist. Dodge is back to head the heist with an ulterior motive. Nancy's legacy is her sister. Charlie is on the otherside of the law now and Noah Claypole is worse than what he was before. Add in Fagin's voice in Dodge's head and it gets bizarre. Stealing a diamond belonging to the queen? Never going to happen.
From the start, Oliver is already roped in and playing the game after his inheritance paperwork goes walkies. From there it's Dodge, Oliver, Noah and Betsy in to steal a diamond. You've got Dodge as the new Fagin and Noah as the new Bill Sykes, with a much darker figure in the background. Oliver has grown to be sarcastic with a bitter chip on his shoulder towards Noah and Mr Bumble.
The further the story gets, the more it's clear things aren't what they seem. Dodge is torn, Betsy and Oliver get on and either Noah or Oliver is going to kill each other. It feels like how they would be as adults. Dodge is clever, masterminding the whole thing every step of the way. Oliver is no longer naïve or innocent and has a few anger issues to work out. There's violence, death, no one making the theft public and redemption. Plays along with themes of suicide as Dodge decides he needs to die.
Tied in with that is Fagin's secrets. What he's left behind. The names for Dodge's and Charlie's parents, along with schemes from his biological father. It was truly an immersive story. The ending was bittersweet, Oliver and Jack parting ways. The ending did feel a bit of cop out. It was one of those it's not over yet ones. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see these two tackle whatever crimes Oliver's father was into. It just took the feeling of a goodbye away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2019
An audible original voice production of a “sequel” to Oliver Twist. 12 years after leaving London, Oliver returns — to sort out some error in his inheritance due to the sudden death of his adoptive father. He met old friends such as Dodger (who is on to something). What followed is intrigue and suspense. An entertaining piece of work.
March 22, 2019
A reasonably interesting heist story, which happens to be based on the characters from Oliver Twist. Honestly, I'm not sure the association with Oliver Twist improves the story, since huge fans of the original will probably dislike some liberties taken, such as adding a sibling for an original character and just the direction some of the characters end up going.
While the story itself was just 'not bad', I found the audio drama quality to be very well done and enjoyable. If you're a fan of old time radio shows, this is just enough of a step up in production quality to be a lot of fun to listen to.
Content issues are limited to some language and the general atmosphere of crime, manipulation, guilt and so forth. I'd recommend this for teenagers and older.
While the story itself was just 'not bad', I found the audio drama quality to be very well done and enjoyable. If you're a fan of old time radio shows, this is just enough of a step up in production quality to be a lot of fun to listen to.
Content issues are limited to some language and the general atmosphere of crime, manipulation, guilt and so forth. I'd recommend this for teenagers and older.
December 21, 2020
Very surprised this didn’t get lore following. I was intrigued and it was a pretty solid story.
Now, given this assumed you have read Oliver Twist; so I suppose the target audience would be somewhat limited but if you have read Oliver, there is 0 reason to not give this a try.
Well executed, well told, and a pretty quick read by Dickensanian standards. I always wondered what, if anything happened after. Well, now I know.
Definitely worth to check out if you enjoyed the original!
Roman
Now, given this assumed you have read Oliver Twist; so I suppose the target audience would be somewhat limited but if you have read Oliver, there is 0 reason to not give this a try.
Well executed, well told, and a pretty quick read by Dickensanian standards. I always wondered what, if anything happened after. Well, now I know.
Definitely worth to check out if you enjoyed the original!
Roman
February 16, 2019
This is Dickens fan fiction. It is not Dickens. Tony Lee should keep his hands off Dickens.
Dodge & Twist is a sequel to Oliver Twist. Years after Oliver was adopted by Mr. Brownlow, he returns to London impoverished, trying to get his inheritance which has been entangled by various unfortunate circumstances.
The author brings back every single surviving character from Dickens's novel, no matter how he has to bend and twist the story around them. The central figure is Jack Dawkins, aka the "Artful Dodger," who after spending years sentenced to transport to Australia, has returned to London to stage a caper involving stealing the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the British Museum. He manages to drag Oliver into the scheme, turning this into a crime caper that resembles the original novel not at all.
As a Dickens fan, I was not impressed. It was a perfectly serviceable caper set in Victorian London, but Tony Lee just borrowed Dickens' characters without preserving any of Dickens' dialog or characterizations, let alone the humanity and social consciousness of Dickens. This isn't a Dickens novel, and it isn't even a very good Dickensian novel. It's marching a bunch of public domain characters through a wholly unrelated plot.
Dodge & Twist is a sequel to Oliver Twist. Years after Oliver was adopted by Mr. Brownlow, he returns to London impoverished, trying to get his inheritance which has been entangled by various unfortunate circumstances.
The author brings back every single surviving character from Dickens's novel, no matter how he has to bend and twist the story around them. The central figure is Jack Dawkins, aka the "Artful Dodger," who after spending years sentenced to transport to Australia, has returned to London to stage a caper involving stealing the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the British Museum. He manages to drag Oliver into the scheme, turning this into a crime caper that resembles the original novel not at all.
As a Dickens fan, I was not impressed. It was a perfectly serviceable caper set in Victorian London, but Tony Lee just borrowed Dickens' characters without preserving any of Dickens' dialog or characterizations, let alone the humanity and social consciousness of Dickens. This isn't a Dickens novel, and it isn't even a very good Dickensian novel. It's marching a bunch of public domain characters through a wholly unrelated plot.
February 26, 2019
Dodge & Twist is the first Audible Originals I have listened to and I am absolutely fascinated by it. The music, background noises and unique voices used for different characters creates a one-of-a-kind experience. I guess this will be the future of the audiobooks, experiencing books like watching a movie. The only problem is that I am still wondering which parts of the original book have been lost due to this amazing remake.
I don't know if it's because of the the singular quality of the audiobook but I really liked the story, too. It's written as a sequel to the famous classic "Oliver Twist" and I think Tony Lee did quite a nice job bringing the timeless story back to life. However, it would be wise to refresh memory before reading/listening to this story as it gets a little difficult to follow the characters if you don't remember the original story.
All in all, it was a great journey for me and I recommend it to everyone, who loves both classics and audiobooks.
I don't know if it's because of the the singular quality of the audiobook but I really liked the story, too. It's written as a sequel to the famous classic "Oliver Twist" and I think Tony Lee did quite a nice job bringing the timeless story back to life. However, it would be wise to refresh memory before reading/listening to this story as it gets a little difficult to follow the characters if you don't remember the original story.
All in all, it was a great journey for me and I recommend it to everyone, who loves both classics and audiobooks.
May 13, 2019
It was a really nostalgic experience to find myself once again thrown back into the adventures of Oliver Twist. The pure soul who feels more like a friend that an imaginary fictional character. I was truly amazed at the authors ability to give Oliver the maturity of a 30-year-old man that still had the same heart I fell in love with when we first met one another as seven-year-olds (Yes, the Oliver Twist was my first literary crush). There were several times throughout the audiobook, when I would smile and think, "Oliver would say that."
However, I was very disheartened that they ruined the iconic Artful Dodger by giving him a plot that characterized him as a borderline schizophrenic. Just as it was absurd the original master thief, Dodger, would have been caught with a small silver snuff box (sorry Charles); the remake would have never been so plagued with Fagin's ghost. Jack Dawkins was the master pickpocket thief, and there was a sense of awe I had of him as a child. To see Tony's rendition turn him into a man with zero whits about him left me feeling cheated. Three stars.
However, I was very disheartened that they ruined the iconic Artful Dodger by giving him a plot that characterized him as a borderline schizophrenic. Just as it was absurd the original master thief, Dodger, would have been caught with a small silver snuff box (sorry Charles); the remake would have never been so plagued with Fagin's ghost. Jack Dawkins was the master pickpocket thief, and there was a sense of awe I had of him as a child. To see Tony's rendition turn him into a man with zero whits about him left me feeling cheated. Three stars.
April 3, 2025
Full cast recording featuring Stephen Mangan and Matt Lucas and many more.
I don’t generally like full cast recordings, but this was done well, more like a radio play, which, indeed, was its first incarnation. This is a revised edition, ten years on from the first one. Twelve years after the events in Dickens’ original book, Oliver Twist is back on the streets of London, penniless because his inheritance from the recently deceased Mr Brownlow, his adoptive father, has been blocked by missing papers. He meets up with Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger, an enters a scheme to get his rightful money, even though it means jointing a plan to steal the world’s most valuable diamond from a safe in the British Museum. There are returning characters and new ones (Nancy’s sister). Just when Oliver starts to trust Dodger, the ghost of Fagin, in Dodger’s head, twists plans. It’s not just wealth Dodger is after, but revenge – for Fagin. Things get really dodgy and twisty before the final showdown.
I don’t generally like full cast recordings, but this was done well, more like a radio play, which, indeed, was its first incarnation. This is a revised edition, ten years on from the first one. Twelve years after the events in Dickens’ original book, Oliver Twist is back on the streets of London, penniless because his inheritance from the recently deceased Mr Brownlow, his adoptive father, has been blocked by missing papers. He meets up with Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger, an enters a scheme to get his rightful money, even though it means jointing a plan to steal the world’s most valuable diamond from a safe in the British Museum. There are returning characters and new ones (Nancy’s sister). Just when Oliver starts to trust Dodger, the ghost of Fagin, in Dodger’s head, twists plans. It’s not just wealth Dodger is after, but revenge – for Fagin. Things get really dodgy and twisty before the final showdown.
March 2, 2019
This was fun—but it was tainted with foul language. I listened to Audible’s free dramatization. It’s not Dickens’ writing style, but all the British accents were fun to listen to. It was a fun plot, bringing in characters from other Dickens’ novels, not just Oliver Twist, and it paved the way for more sequels. The only thing I didn’t like was the swearing. There wasn’t a lot, but near the end there was just enough that I wouldn’t let kids listen to it. That’s a shame—it was a fun story, and it would get kids interested in Dickens. 3 1/2 stars.
February 14, 2019
Interesting audio drama that follows up on Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger as adults. The voice acting was very good (if a little over-acted sometimes) and the sound effects and sound quality were excellent. However, the story itself was dark and a little depressing. I didn't care about any of the characters; none of them are "good people." Obviously, that doesn't mean they're not good characters, but I need some redeeming qualities.
March 2, 2019
(audible original)
Dickens fan fiction utilizing Oliver Twist characters 12 years later. The production is good with music, sound effects, good vocal actors (The Artful Dodger is the best.)
A convoluted plot with many charming coincidences a series of safes that have to be cracked and villains out to get other villains.
The best part was the ghosts. And the copper.
Oliver was a bit of a drip.
Recommend--safe for children who enjoy action, can follow cockney accents and enjoy a good ghost story.
Dickens fan fiction utilizing Oliver Twist characters 12 years later. The production is good with music, sound effects, good vocal actors (The Artful Dodger is the best.)
A convoluted plot with many charming coincidences a series of safes that have to be cracked and villains out to get other villains.
The best part was the ghosts. And the copper.
Oliver was a bit of a drip.
Recommend--safe for children who enjoy action, can follow cockney accents and enjoy a good ghost story.
April 1, 2019
Audible Original Production review. Various narrators.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. A few times it was difficult to follow who was doing what, but no major confusion with it overall. The story was quite interesting. I've always loved Oliver Twist. This was a believable continuation of Oliver and Dodger's story.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. A few times it was difficult to follow who was doing what, but no major confusion with it overall. The story was quite interesting. I've always loved Oliver Twist. This was a believable continuation of Oliver and Dodger's story.
April 26, 2020
I takes me ‘ats off to ya Mr Lee. An intelligent continuation and sequel that I’d hope Dickens would endorse, a tale of cross, double and triple crossing and then again for good measure with now grown up characters of those kids that we remember so well and the aged or otherworldly appearance of the often abusive adults that we loathed or barely understood. Lovely tempo and a smooth read.
August 27, 2020
Unfortunately, I had a very difficult time understanding what was happening at the end of the story. The Audible production had sound effects and a full cast so that was really cool to listen to, but they got a bit carried away during the climax. So much so that I didn't understand what was happening!
April 29, 2024
"But you were never really a friend, were you, Oliver? You were a plague upon us, a hindrance."
This book was an incredibly joyful and fast-paced romp around Dickensian London that follows the continued lives of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger as they attempt to gain back what they are owed, all while facing their ghosts once and for all.
Charles Dickens 'Oliver Twist' was a classical revolution in the making, and now with this original sequel, watches Oliver as he is once again back on the streets of Victorian London, after his adoptive father, Mr Brownlow, has died, and all inheritance that has been stored away has now been seized by the banks. When Oliver meets with the Artful Dodger once more, he is roped into an almost-impossible heist - to steal the Koh-I-Noor diamond from the Great Exhibition, right under Queen Victoria's nose.
Despite the fact that this book has quite a simple formula, the author outdid himself in terms of plotting and the introduction of characters, both old and new alike. Their is still a grisly side that matches with the dark and crime-ridden streets of Dickens' London, but the novel holds a unique style of action and comedy that provides an entertaining ensemble of both characters and plot devices. With gangsters, thieves, ghosts and royalty, the streets of London have never been so adequately repurposed.
This book was an incredibly joyful and fast-paced romp around Dickensian London that follows the continued lives of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger as they attempt to gain back what they are owed, all while facing their ghosts once and for all.
Charles Dickens 'Oliver Twist' was a classical revolution in the making, and now with this original sequel, watches Oliver as he is once again back on the streets of Victorian London, after his adoptive father, Mr Brownlow, has died, and all inheritance that has been stored away has now been seized by the banks. When Oliver meets with the Artful Dodger once more, he is roped into an almost-impossible heist - to steal the Koh-I-Noor diamond from the Great Exhibition, right under Queen Victoria's nose.
Despite the fact that this book has quite a simple formula, the author outdid himself in terms of plotting and the introduction of characters, both old and new alike. Their is still a grisly side that matches with the dark and crime-ridden streets of Dickens' London, but the novel holds a unique style of action and comedy that provides an entertaining ensemble of both characters and plot devices. With gangsters, thieves, ghosts and royalty, the streets of London have never been so adequately repurposed.
February 18, 2019
Pulpy rubbish, but entertaining enough to get me through commutes.
March 9, 2019
A fun and diverting follow up!
March 20, 2019
I listened to this performed through an audiobook. First time I’ve listened to a book that was more like a play. Thought it was well done and an interesting play on the original Oliver Twist story.
February 1, 2020
An Immersive Performance
I loved this audiobook! There were separate voices for each character, background sounds, music, and sound effects. I have not yet read Oliver Twist (though I plan to now), but I knew the plotline from movies. The flashbacks and tie-ins from the original story made it feel authentic to Dickens and the twists (pun intended) of this story were both puzzling and exciting. Definitely listen to this one!
I loved this audiobook! There were separate voices for each character, background sounds, music, and sound effects. I have not yet read Oliver Twist (though I plan to now), but I knew the plotline from movies. The flashbacks and tie-ins from the original story made it feel authentic to Dickens and the twists (pun intended) of this story were both puzzling and exciting. Definitely listen to this one!
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