Fagin The Thief by Allison Epstein

A rich imagining of the world of Charles Dickens particularly OLIVER TWIST. Jacob Fagin grows up living hand to mouth with his hard working mother. When mother's death leaves him an orphan he finds that his light fingers earn him a living and new family among thieves. Fagin begins to take in other orphans training them and trying to protect them from the dangers of the streets. One of them becomes more dangerous as the role shifts from teacher to friend to uneasy partner but still Fagin tries to do right by all of them. Some see Fagin as a hardened thief, others a trusted ally, but to the boys he takes in he is a father figure in an uncertain and dangerous world. The underbelly of London is a microcosm of morality, fear, love, loneliness and unique families with Fagin at its center. Allison Epstein has uncovered a heart of gold in Fagin breathing new life into an underwritten character. Fans of reworked classics such as JAMES by Percival Everett will find much to love here.   4 1/2 stars