Author: Terry Pratchett
Year published: 2012
Dodger is quite a departure from Pratchett's beloved Discworld series, but it is a very good book.
The title derives from the Artful Dodger of Dickens' Oliver Twis. This Dodger does share some characteristics of that one: Both live in London in early Victorian times. Both live with elderly Jews. Both are somewhat shady characters not averse to a little petty theivery, yet with a good heart underneath it all. But there are many differences as well:
- The person this Dodger lives with is a watchmaker and does not run a criminal operation; in fact, he disapproves of Dodger's thievery.
- In this book, Dodger and Solomon (not Fagin) live alone
- In this book, Dodger's main source of income is not picking pockets but "toshing" - that is, digging through London's sewers looking for coins or other items of value.
- In this book, Dodger rescues not Oliver Twist, but a beautiful young woman who is being beaten.
- In this book, Charles Dickens is a character, not the author
At the start of Dodger, our hero sees a woman being beaten. He jumps into the fray, chases off the bullis, and thinks that is the end of it. But it isn't. Because this young woman is very special indeed. Thus, the adventure begins. The tale is fast-moving and well-plotted; anyone who has read books by Terry Pratchett will know that the man is a great storyteller. Along the way, there are major appearances by Charles Dickens (as a young author and journalist, not yet famous); Henry Mayhew (who chronicled the life of London's poor) and Robert Peel (founder of the "peelers" - a new London police force). There is also a brief appearance by Queen Victoria (she is amused).
About the author: Terry Pratchett was most famous as the author of the Discworld series. His books have sold tens of millions of copies and been translated into many languages. He lived in London.
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