In this retelling of Charles Dickins' classic tale, a poor workhouse orphan, Oliver, experiences the terror and brutality of the criminal underworld. His companions, who include a thief, a whore, and a pickpocket, are destined for gruesome ends, but Oliver emerges unscathed from the underworld. He survives starvation in the workhouse, life with the evil Fagin, kidnap, and robbery before eventually finding happiness.About the Author: Pauline Francis has 20 years of experience as a secondary school teacher and trained librarian. She is the author of a number of retellings of well-known classics, including "The Count of Monte Cristo," "Frankenstein," and "The War of the Worlds."