The Scent of Oranges by Kathy George
The Scent of Oranges is a retelling of Oliver Twist from the point of view of Nancy – the most tragic of Dicken’s characters. Nancy doesn’t remember how she landed up being a street child, but it was easier to pretend to be boy until she couldn’t any longer. Once she started wearing dresses, it attracted a whole new way of life she could earn money from. She didn’t like it but thought beggars couldn’t be choosers. There is some memory of a woman; she thinks might have been her mother, but she needs to focus on the things that matter – Bill, the Dodger, and Oliver. And now Mr. Rufus, a new character, who dresses her up, tells her to pretend to be mute so the language she uses wouldn’t reveal her status. He presents her to his aunt while becoming very inventive with his lies about Nancy. All this is to serve his purpose, to be betrothed in order to get the inheritance. With this new character, Nancy awakens to a new experience, exploring new dimensions to her. It is a sad s...