奧利佛是上流社會一個有錢人家的私生子。他年輕的母親在教區濟貧院裡生下他後就辭世了。他在濟貧院裡過著地獄般的生活。九歲時，他被賣到棺材店做學徒。在遭受了一次毒打後，奧利佛逃往倫敦，在去倫敦的途中又誤入賊窩。經歷了一繫列磨難之後，他身世大白，終於回到了親人的懷抱。

《霧都孤兒》是狄更斯於1838年出版的寫實小說，是他的第一部重要 的社會問題小說。這部小說以霧都倫敦為背景，講述一個孤兒悲慘的身世 及遭遇：主人公奧利佛是個孤兒，從小在濟貧院長大，不知父母是誰。他 在濟貧院中受了九年的折磨後被送到一個承辦喪事的店裡當學徒，在那裡 受到虐待。他忍無可忍，獨自逃往倫敦，不幸剛到便被騙誤入賊窟，這是 一個專事盜竊搶劫的團伙，為首的是老猶太人費金，除了少數頭目外，都 是些被引入邪路的少年兒童。費金一伙用威脅、利誘、灌輸等手段，要把 奧利佛變成他們的作案工具。奧利佛歷盡無數辛酸，幾經波折，最終被他 父親生前的朋友從賊窟中救出，找到了親人，得到了遺產，過上了幸福的 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