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Rated 
of 5
by Linda O. (Jacksonville, NC)
Fagin the Thief Story retellings always seem to jump to the top of my To-Be-Read list and so it was that I leaped at the chance to read Allison Epstein's Fagin the Thief. The setting is still London's seedy underground and the plight of the poor and of abandoned orphans still as horrible and violent a in Dickens' original. Antisemitism is still rampant in Epstein's version and plays a major role in Fagin's development.
Fagin is still a thief and a liar and an opportunist, but Epstein provides a backstory which makes him a more sympathetic character than the original. He is only sixteen when he desperately makes a deal with God to save his mother's life, but she dies despite all his efforts, and he is forced to find his own way forward.
Dickens portrays the older Fagin as a procurer of the young and impoverished for his own welfare, but this Fagin is sought out by these young men who want to learn from him, and he takes them in knowing what their lives will be otherwise. Epstein doesn't sanitize Fagin's character; at times he is still morally despicable, but the entry of Nan, the daughter of the only friend he has ever known, gives Fagin, and the reader, another version of himself — different from the view that others have given him. Nan helps him believe that "he's a person, the same as all the rest."
His relationship with Bill Sikes is more complicated in Epstein's version. While Bill is serving two years in prison, Fagin tries to write a letter to him, but after several tries, gives up and throws it in the fire. He doesn't visit Bill, though Bill expects him, because he fears that he will be recognized there. It is Nan who knows, "clearly better than Bill does, that no one ought to count on Fagin to do anything that puts Fagin at risk. It's every man for himself, but Fagin for Fagin most of all."
Yet when Ned and Bullseye visit Fagin in prison, Ned is so angry he asks why he's defending Bill after all he's done. "You didn't know him, Ned.... He's just like me." Fagin tells him, "He was a wicked man who did the worst things that can be done, and if you believe in hell, he's there burning right now. He was shameful, small, selfish, cruel, vicious, and there's no forgiveness for that. But he was a man ... and my friend, and I loved him."
The humanity Epstein has imbued in each of these characters makes her novel a remarkable retelling - one of the best in my reading experience. I'm grateful to her and to Book Browse for giving me the opportunity to read and comment.
Rated of 5
by Lynne B. (Somersworth, NH)
Fagin the Thief If you loved James by Percival Everett, then you will definitely want to read this book, Fagin the Thief. This is another famous classic retold from the point of view of a different character.
This novel is based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. You may remember Fagin and Sikes from the original classic. This is the story of Fagin from the time he is a young child living with his mother leading to the how and why he begins his career in thievery which makes him a famous Dickens character.
He befriends Bill Sikes who is also a child when he meets him. He begins to teach him everything he knows about surviving on the streets of London. The story moves back and forth in time which stimulates interest in the upcoming events in the novel. Oliver Twist also enters the story at one point.
This is the backstory you may have always wanted to know if you have read Oliver Twist. I commend Allison Epstein on a thoroughly researched and delightful historical read while providing us with a further look at the life of Dickens' London in the early 1800s.
Rated of 5
by Kathryn H. (Rochester, MI)
The Making of Fagin the Thief Allison Epstein has done a wonderful job fleshing out the character of "Oliver Twist('s)" Jacob Fagin. If you enjoy books like Sarah Miller's "Marmee" or modern retellings or additions to the Jane Austen stories, "Fagin the Thief" may fill several happy hours of reading.
Epstein begins her imagining of Fagin when he is six years old. She skips around throughout the book but each chapter head includes the date, so it is easy to follow the plot.
Along with Fagin, the author also expands on the lives of Dodger, Nancy, Oliver Twist, and Bill Sikes, as well as Sike's dog, Bullseye. The story moves quickly. It is so well-written that I really did feel as if I was reading a part of Dickens I'd never found before.
"Fagin the Thief" was a joy to read and I highly recommend it.
Rated of 5
by Deborah W. (Boynton Beach, FL)
A New Life for an Old Character I have a doctoral degree in English literature with a specialization in nineteenth century British fiction; Dickens is one of my favorite authors. So it's no wonder I was eager to read this novel! But you don't have to be familiar with "Oliver Twist," or a fan of the musical "Oliver," to enjoy this fresh take on Fagin, Dickens' infamous thief who trained a cadre of young boys in the fine art of pickpocketing. Here we learn Fagin's backstory: how he grew up Jewish in London and turned to thievery, how he took in Bill Sykes and then Nancy, and then the Artful Dodger and then Oliver, among others, and how in the end his little empire fell to pieces with Nancy's death. And here Fagin is more than a caricature: he's a fully-developed character with an inner life, philosophical musings about life and death, and a ferocious will to live. Various London neighborhoods, prisons, and communities come alive in this book, with lots of historically accurate details including foods, clothing styles, London fogs, and river Thames smells. If you're looking for a book to take you away to another time and place, and immerse you in the lives of others, this one is perfect.
Rated of 5
by Helen B. (WINTHROP, ME)
Fagin The Thief Stephen King as a writer he always asks,, What if… In Fagin the Thief, Allison Epstein asks that question about the most loathed characters of Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. In Epstein's deft and creative hands, we are reintroduced to the original Fagin and Bill, but are also thrust into a deeper study of who they may have been before they were brought to life through Dickens' pen. Epstein's work is meticulous in its research, the handling of Fagin's treatment as a Jew, and her splendid use of language. The reader from the start is drawn into the threatening and dark streets of 19th century London, but this time will find themselves cheering along not the little boy, Oliver, but rather those who we have seen as monsters for nearly two hundred years. Only a skilled storyteller can pull that off! A five star read, especially for Dickens' fans. Thank you to Doubleday, NetGalley, and BookBrowse.com for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rated of 5
by Barbara C. (Riverside, CA)
Exceptional read. The author has a clear writing style that I appreciated very much. Each character was an individual, with identifiable traits. Although many in the story had negative relationships the book was true to its intent. It was easy to follow and more than kept my attention. I galloped through it for fear it might slip away (ebook). One of my favorite Book Browse reads over the many years I have participated with this program. Thank you.
Rated of 5
by Arlene I. (Johnston, RI)
Sensational Read Wow! Allison Epstein has provided the reader with lots of new imagery for Victorian England in her book, Fagin the Thief. A semi-new Fagin is revealed. Her in-depth characterization shows Fagin being a manipulative, cunning, greedy, corrupt man, but a "softer" side of him is developed. He does still exploit children-mostly orphans- but he also provides care, shelter and food. There is no debating that Fagin is a criminal mastermind leading a "gang" of young pickpockets in deplorable England. Sometimes his caring for these "wards" makes him a vulnerable character. To say that Fagin is a complex character is an understatement.
The author weaves the anti-Semitic portray of Fagin as well as the stereotyping of Jewish people during Victorian England into his character. At times Fagin feels unsafe in his adventures and doesn't always exhibit confidence in targeting "customers". He is know to other as "the Jew" which he feels is condescending.The darker corrupt side of Victorian England is vividly portrayed. The squalor of living conditions stands out in the novel. The only time the reader views the wealthy is through the characters Fagin targets to rob.
I would definitely recommend this novel to book clubs. The discussions could go in many different directions. This book would also be great for a literature class either in high school of college. Fagin, in both Oliver Twist and Fagin the Thief should provide lively discussions.
Thank you BookBrowse for giving me the opportunity of reading an advanced copy.
Rated of 5
by Lani S. (Narberth, PA)
a masterful interpretation Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein is a remarkable reimagining of Fagin from Dicken's Oliver Twist sure to delight fans of Dicken's works. Set against the backdrop of 19th -century London, Fagin was raised by his mother Leah until her death when he was 16. During that period he was taken under the wing of a pickpocket who taught him the skills of the trade. He became a skilled artisan evading police and collecting goods while living in an abandoned building. Here he takes in several orphans who have no where else to go and teaches them what he has learned along the way. One of his orphans, Billy Sikes, was to become one of London's most daring housebreakers but ultimately lead to chaos within the "family."
A wonderful character study, Fagin emerges as a man shaped by the brutal realities of poverty, Jewish prejudice, and circumstance. As he gets tangled deeper in the world of crime, his internal struggle becomes evident with his desire for survival and the choices he is faced with. Though he is manipulative I couldn't help but find him a sympathetic character at times, though his actions continued to be morally questionable.
Epstein paints a wonderful picture of the harsh economic and social conditions of Victorian England, broadcasting the difficulties of survival for the gang of child thieves under Fagin's wing. Oliver Twist makes a cursory introduction as well as the Artful Dodger from Dicken's book. Nancy, the prostitute, who fell in love with Billy Sikes, plays a prominent and compelling role as well. The author's focus on the psychology and motivations of the characters makes this reinterpretation feel grounded and believable. While there is no straightforward redemption arc or a clear -cut portrayal of good vs evil, this terrific book offers a powerful insight on how individuals navigate systems of power and survival while highlighting the complexity of human nature. This book is a winner!
Rated of 5
by Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)
A Nest of Thieves!! When I first started this book I almost sent BookBrowse a "Just not my forte" note - but I decided to read on and now must say I absolutely loved this book!! It was a depiction of early to mid- nineteenth century London at its best and its worst.. It enveloped sadness, hatred, kindness, selfishness - and just the simple joy in living. The characters in Epstein's novel were so vivid and each one so different from the other as were the scenes depicted in this story so vivid of a sordid London. I, as the reader was transported to a much seamier time and place and side of life that is unknown to most of us. Yet the novel was so full of life!!
For me this was one of those rare books that one does not want to end -but alas, all good things must come to an end!
Rated of 5
by Dan W. (Fort Myers, FL)
Oliver Twist Revisited I admit at first that I was struggling with the narrative of this book. In fact, I reread the beginning chapters several times to comprehend the content and format of this book. However, the more that I continued reading this book, I became a captive reader. By the time I had read more than 50 percent of this book, I became so engrossed in the book I that anxiously awaited the availability of my time to read as many pages as possible. I couldn't foresee how the book would end, but when I reached that end, I was totally captivated. What an enjoyable experience I had reading this book and encourage others to embark on the trials and tribulations experienced by the characters in this book.
Rated 
of 5
by Jim T. (North Ridgeville, OH)
A Different Fagin I read Oliver Twist several decades ago and was fascinated by the opportunity to read this reimagining of the villain of Dicken's novel set in the mid-nineteenth century. Somewhat to my surprise, a sympathetic Jacob Fagin appears in Allison Epstein's novel. Jacob is a boy abused by his father, who was also a thief, and loved by a mother who tried to point him in a different direction, to no avail.
I took an interest in the extreme anti-Semitism in London at that time, as Jacob Fagin was a secular Jew, but a Jew nonetheless. The attitude toward him by society was, "Of course, he's a thief, he's a Jew, isn't he?" The story takes us through his early life as a ragamuffin pickpocket on the street, eventually becoming a master thief. In the Dickens story, it appears that Fagin deliberately gathered boys into his lair, sending them out into the streets to pick the pockets of the rich and bring the spoils back to him.
Epstein presents a different storyline: Boys seek him out to escape their fate and be trained by him. He becomes a reluctant rescuer of these boys. Jacob is not a kindly hero, but he does have a soul and a conscience, of sorts. Oliver, interestingly enough, is not a major character in this novel but does appear and takes part, against his will, in an abortive home robbery that goes awry.
At this point, Epstein imagines a different story concerning the violent Bill Sikes and his girlfriend Nancy, which becomes the main focus of the rest of the book. Without giving spoilers away, they all come to an end differently than in Dicken's novel. If your remembrance of Dicken's version is strong, you might object to Epstein's version, but I frankly thought it was well done and actually made more sense. And a novel is, after all, a novel, so the author can go anywhere they wish. I highly recommend it. Thanks to BookBrowse for providing a pre-publication version for review.
Rated of 5
by Sandi W. (East Moline, IL)
A deeper probe of Fagin... 3.5 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Doubleday for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Publishes Feb 25, 2025.
I am pretty skeptical about retellings. Seldom do I care for the changes that are made to the original story or characters. However with this book, it was not so much a retelling as it was a deeper probe and continuation into the lives that Dickens made popular.
We are reintroduced to Fagin, as an adult. Along with Nancy, Bill Sikes, Dodger and the dog, Bullseye. Fagin takes them all under his wing, along with a few more, and makes sure they are the best pickpockets in Victorian London. Until Sikes tries a job that puts them all under the thumb of the law.
I will be following the writing career of Epstein, having enjoyed this book. Sadly to say, her other two books are in eras that I do not particularly like to read about, so hoping that a future book will liken back to a time period that I do enjoy.
Rated of 5
by Karen P. (Silver Spring, MD)
Alterate take on Oliver Twist Fagin the Thief treads the now familiar trope of an alternate POV of a classic story. It does so without the Antisemitism of the original and makes Fagin out to be a sympathetic character dealing with the extreme poverty of 19th century London and early loss of parents. he is given a childhood thieving mentor which he in turn becomes to other boys over time. I'll not spoil the ending but it was satisfying.
Rated of 5
by Laurie B. (Jacksonville, FL)
Well written An interesting re-telling of Oliver Twist. The author writes well and offers interesting insight into the characters. The historical background and depiction of the "justice" system was intriguing.
Rated of 5
by Sylvia G. (Scottsdale, AZ)
A twist on Oliver Twist I loved the first 3/4 of this novel. The Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is the basis of this story but told from the point of view of Fagin. Unfortunately, I never read Oliver, although I did see the musical, so I'm not sure his much of Epstein's novel is complete reinvention. London of the 1800's comes alive and I felt a lot of empathy with many of the characters, who are complicated and multi dimensional. The ending was less successful for me, although I'm not sure of a satisfying ending was possible.
Rated of 5
by Amanda B. (Moneta, VA)
Fagin - An Accounting I was immediately drawn to the premise of the plot and wanted to learn more about the infamous Fagin from Dickens' Oliver Twist. However, the first half of the story is told at almost arm's length – a distance. It feels more like an accounting of Fagin's life, rather than being in his head to understand why he is who he is. Why does Fagin find pickpocketing so exciting in the first place? It's never explored, he just does. How did his loss drive him? That's never explored, just a summary of the early years he has on the streets. The plot was slow this first half as the author struggled to give Fagin motivation. But the second half of the novel was plot-driven and a page turner and fun to read. I enjoyed the author's take on what happened to the characters, but felt the point of this story was to show why. And I feel that question was never answered.
Rated 
of 5
by Amber H. (Asheville, NC)
Not for me Sadly, I found this book quite boring. So much of the book was detail after detail about petty theft. I didn't get a good feel for Fagin or the other characters in the book. I wish there was more insight into the characters relationships with each other, their own thoughts/beliefs, etc. I don't know that I feel like I took away a backstory to Fagin of Oliver Twist, which was a disappointment. This one just wasn't for me.
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