Award-winning Blue Badge Guide Patrick Voss investigates the real world behind Charles Dickens' unflinching portrayal of Victorian crime. Dickens' novels—particularly Oliver Twist—feature pickpockets, thieves, child exploitation, and violent criminals such as Fagin and Bill Sikes. But were these fictional depictions grounded in historical fact?
This talk explores the harsh realities that shaped Dickens' urgent writing: the workhouse system, urban poverty, and the dangers of life in the world's largest city of the era. Voss, passionate about making history resonate with today's audiences, reveals why Dickens felt compelled to document Victorian London's crime so vividly.
The presentation runs approximately 50-60 minutes, followed by a question and answer session.
Before or after the talk, visitors can explore the current exhibition Londoners On Trial: Crime, Courts and the Public 1244-1924, on view at The London Archives from 9 March 2026 to 25 February 2027. The exhibition is free during normal opening hours.
