In David Copperfield, Dickens cleverly waves the more humorous elements - personified by Mr Micawber and Betsy Trotwood - with David's own times of great happiness and tragedy. In doing so he paints a powerful picture of social conditions in Victorian England. Oliver Twist is set in the seediest quarters of 19th century lowlife London. Yet the novel is riddled with many of Dickens' most colourful characters: everyone's favourite innocent urchin Oliver finds himself up against the evil and conniving Fagin, the ruthless Bill Sykes, and the grotesque Artful Dodger. Not forgetting Nancy, the prostitute with a heart of gold. Many stage and film versions of Oliver Twist have been created, most recently by Roman Polanski. Great Expectations combines a story of unrequited love with classic adventure as Pip falls in love with Estella and is financed to fulfil his ambition by a mysterious benefactor. Other characters include the vindictive Miss Havisham and the big-hearted convict Abel Magwitch. All three novels are read by the internationally-acclaimed actor and reader Martin Jarvis.