Fagin the Thief (A Novel)

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION ● EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST NOVEL

“Thrilling.” —The New York Times Book Review

Long before Oliver Twist stumbled onto the scene, Jacob Fagin was scrounging a life for himself in the dark alleys of nineteenth-century London. Born in the Jewish enclave of Stepney after his father was executed for theft, Jacob grows up with his mother, Leah. But his prospects are altered when a seasoned pickpocket teaches him a trade that pays better than an honest living ever could.

Striking out on his own, Jacob familiarizes himself with London's wealthiest neighborhoods while forging a path in the shadows. Everything changes when he adopts aspiring teenage thief Bill Sikes, whose mercurial temper poses a danger to himself and anyone foolish enough to cross him. Along the way, Jacob’s found family expands to include his closest friend, Nancy, and his protégé, the Artful Dodger. But when a major robbery goes awry, Jacob is forced to decide what he stands for—and what a life is worth. With colorfully wicked humor, Allison Epstein reclaims one of Victorian literature’s most notorious villains in an unforgettable new adventure.