Oliver Twist - Book the First, Chapter the Eleventh

Treats of Mr Fang the Police Magistrate, and furnishes a slight Specimen of his Mode of administering Justice

Dickens has some great names, doesn't he?

What would I do without Google Images?

I'm going with the theory that his name is an unsubtle metaphor and that he will be horrible. Like everyone else in Oliver's life ever.

Continuing straight on from last chapter (which I read like a week and a half ago but I won't re-read it because this book is QUITE BORING), Oliver is escorted to a nearby police station after being arrested for stealing. The old gentleman, however, appears to be having second thoughts.

"'There is something in that boy's face,' said the old gentleman to himself as he walked slowly away, tapping his chin with the cover of the book in a thoughtful manner, 'something that touches and interests me. Can he be innocent? He looked like - By the bye,' exclaimed the old gentleman, halting very abruptly, and staring up at the sky, 'God bless my soul! where have I seen something like that look before?'"

Apart from saying 'something in his face touches me' (lol), this paragraph is interesting! Does this man have some connection to Oliver's past?

So a footnote has revealed to me that Mr Fang is based on the real life Mr Laing, who sounds delightful (he was fired after whacking a doctor on the street and calling him a 'damned blackguard') and Dickens got his description of Fang by being smuggled into Laing's office and observing him! I know some of Oliver's life is semi-autobiographical for Dickens, but I didn't realise bad-ass ninja skills were on the table.

LOL, the gentleman gave Mr Fang a card with his name on it and Mr Fang was all like 'I just threw the card away, who are you?' And now they're having a fight LOLOL. Hopefully Oliver escapes/gets off? I really don't want him to end up in jail.

Well, at least Mr Brownlow seems to have realised that it wasn't Oliver's fault and doesn't want him to get in trouble. Also the officer is lying for Oliver because he's too scared to answer Fang's questions! I am liking that officer.

Yes.

Oliver is sentenced to three months hard labour BUT LUCKILY the keeper of the book stall has come to Oliver's rescue and testified for him. Yayy! Um lol, Mr Brownlow actually stole the book he is reading! That is hi-LAR-ious.

Oliver, the book stall keeper and the old gentleman ride off in a coach together. And Oliver is treated well in the next chapter! He must go back to Fagin at some point though which sucks.

Also, I've been thinking about it and I don't think reading more than one book at a time is actually the most efficient way to run this blog. All the books are getting mixed up in my head. So I'll finish the ones that I'm reading now and then we'll see what happens.

I was going to write a separate post with my review of House of Leaves (which I read all in one go while I was away) but it was TOO CRAZY (good though, I'd recommend it) so I won't.