奥利佛是上流社会一个有钱人家的私生子。他年轻的母亲在教区济贫院里生下他后就辞世了。他在济贫院里过着地狱般的生活。九岁时，他被卖到棺材店做学徒。在遭受了一次毒打后，奥利佛逃往伦敦，在去伦敦的途中又误入贼窝。经历了一系列磨难之后，他身世大白，终于回到了亲人的怀抱。

《雾都孤儿》是狄更斯于1838年出版的写实小说，是他的第一部重要的社会问题小说。这部小说以雾都伦敦为背景，讲述一个孤儿悲惨的身世及遭遇：主人公奥利佛是个孤儿，从小在济贫院长大，不知父母是谁。他在济贫院中受了九年的折磨后被送到一个承办丧事的店里当学徒，在那里受到虐待。他忍无可忍，独自逃往伦敦，不幸刚到便被骗误入贼窟，这是一个专事盗窃抢劫的团伙，为首的是老犹太人费金，除了少数头目外，都是些被引入邪路的少年儿童。费金一伙用威胁、利诱、灌输等手段，要把奥利佛变成他们的作案工具。奥利佛历尽无数辛酸，几经波折，最终被他父亲生前的朋友从贼窟中救出，找到了亲人，得到了遗产，过上了幸福的生活。

Chapter 1 Treats of the place where Oliver Twistwas born;

and of the circumstances attending his birth

Chapter 2 Treats of Oliver Twist's growth, education, and board

Chapter 3 Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting

a place, which would not have been a sinecure

Chapter 4 Oliver, being offered another place, makes his

first entry into public life

Chapter 5 Oliver mingles with new associates. Going to

a funeral for the first time, he forms an

unfavourable notion of his master's business

Chapter 6 Oliver, being goaded by the taunts of Noah,

rouses into action and rather astonishes him

Chapter 7 Oliver continues refractory

Chapter 8 Oliver walks to London. He encounters on the

road, a strange sort of young gentleman

Chapter 9 Containing further particulars concerning the

pleasant old gentleman and his hopeful pupils

Chapter l0 Oliver becomes better acquainted with the

characters of his new associates; and purchases

experience at a high price. Being a short but

very important chapter in this history

Chapter 11 Treats of Mr. Fang, the police magistrate; and

furnishes a slight specimen of his mode of

administering justice

Chapter 12 In which Oliver is taken better care of than

he ever was before. And in which the narrative

reverts to the merry old gentleman and his

youthful friends

Chapter 13 Some new acquaintances are introduced to the

intelligent reader; connected with whom

various pleasant matters are related appertaining

to this history

Chapter 14 Comprising further particulars of Oliver's stay at

Mr. Brownlow's, with the remarkable prediction

which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him

when he went out on an errand

Chapter 15 Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist the

merry old Jew and Miss Nancy were

Chapter 16 Relates what became of Oliver Twist, after he

had been claimed by Nancy

Chapter 17 Oliver's destiny, continuing unpropitious,

brings a great man to London to injure his reputation

Chapter 18 How Oliver passed his time in the improving

society of his reputable friends

Chapter 19 In which a notable plan is discussed and

determined on

Chapter 20 Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William Sikes

Chapter 21 The expedition

Chapter 22 The burglary

Chapter 23 Which contains the substance of a pleasant

conversation between Mr. Bumble and a lady;

and shows that even a beadle may be susceptible

on some points

Chapter 24 Treats of a very poor subject. But is a short one;

and may be found of some importance in this

history

Chapter 25 Wherein this history refers to Mr. Fagin and

company

Chapter 26 In which a mysterious character appears upon

the scene; and many things, inseparable from

this history, are done and performed

Chapter 27 Atones for the unpoliteness of a former chapter;

which deserted a lady most unceremoniously

Chapter 28 Looks after Oliver, and proceeds with his adventures

Chapter 29 Has an introductory account of the inmates of

the house to which Oliver resorted

Chapter 30 Relates what Oliver's new visitors thought of him

Chapter 31 Involves a critical position

Chapter 32 Of the happy life Oliver began to lead with

his kind friends

Chapter 33 Wherein the happiness of Oliver and his friends

experiences a sudden check

Chapter 34 Contains some introductory particulars relative to

a young gentleman who now arrives upon the

scene; and a new adventure which happened to Oliver

Chapter 35 Containing the unsatisfactory result of Oliver's

adventure; and a conversation of some

importance between Harry Maylie and Rose

Chapter 36 Is a very short one, and may appear of no great

importance in its place. But it should be read,

notwithstanding, as a sequel to the last, and a

key to one that will follow when its time arrives

Chapter 37 In which the reader may perceive a contrast,

not uncommon in matrimonial cases

Chapter 38 Containing an account of what passed between

Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, and Monks, at their

nocturnal interview

Chapter 39 Introduces some respectable characters with

whom the reader is already acquainted, and

shows how Monks and the Jew laid their

worthy heads together

Chapter 40 A strange interview, which is a sequel to the

last chapter

Chapter 41 Containing fresh discoveries, and showing that

surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone

Chapter 42 An old acquaintance of Oliver's, exhibiting

decided marks of genius, becomes a public

character in the metropolis

Chapter 43 Wherein is shown how the Artful Dodger

got into trouble

Chapter 44 The time arrives for Nancy to redeem her

pledge to Rose Maylie. She fails

Chapter 45 Noah Claypole is employed by Fagin on a

secret mission

Chapter 46 The appointment kept

Chapter 47 Fatal consequences

Chapter 48 The flight of Sikes

Chapter 49 Monks and Mr. Browniow at length meet. Their

conversation, and the intelligence that interrupt,it

Chapter 50 The pursuit and escape

Chapter 51 Affording an explanation of more mysteries

than one, and comprehending a proposal of

marriage, with no word of settlement or pin-money

Chapter 52 The Jew's last night alive

Chapter 53 And last