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The Artful Dodger
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The Artful Dodger picking a pocket to the amazement of Oliver Twist (far right); illustration by George Cruikshank for Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist (1837–39).
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Quick Facts
Byname of:
Jack Dawkins
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External Websites
The Artful Dodger picking a pocket to the amazement of Oliver Twist (far right); illustration by George Cruikshank for Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist (1837–39).
The Artful Dodger picking a pocket to the amazement of Oliver Twist (far right); illustration by George Cruikshank for Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist (1837–39).

The Artful Dodger

fictional character
Also known as: Jack Dawkins
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

The Artful Dodger, fictional character in Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist (1837–39). The Artful Dodger is a precocious streetwise boy who introduces the protagonist Oliver to the thief Fagin and his gang of children, who work as thieves and pickpockets.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John M. Cunningham.