The novel “Fagin the Thief” by Allison Epstein attempts to fashion a backstory for the London criminal while also recreating the events of “Oliver Twist” from his perspective. It’s a very ambitious choice, to say the least.
There are two ways you could judge the author’s success. One, read it based solely on its merits as a standalone piece of fiction, unconnected with the previous work. So long as you fully close your mind to the existence of its legendary predecessor, you might find the book enjoyable and well-written.
