BTW, Ikey Solomon ( the inspiration for Fagin) was known as "The prince of fences". he was very different in real life to his fictionalized portrayal- he didn't die on the gallows, (partly because of petitions from people in the East End of London, who liked him and his own skill as an escape artist), he was tall and well-dressed, and he was a prominent underworld figure, in contrast to Dickens' character who isn't all that powerful, well-liked, or loyal and is a totally negative stereotype.