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(Charles Dickens) Ikey Solomon and Fagin

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MorwenEdhelwen Aussie Tolkien freak from Sydney, Australia Since: Jul, 2012
Aussie Tolkien freak
#1: Aug 14th 2013 at 9:10:43 PM

Recently I've been working on a revision of an old idea; a steampunk novel inspired by Oliver Twist. It's only very loosely based on the original and takes quite a bit of inspiration from stuff I've heard and the life of Ikey Solomon, a professional fence who lived from 1785-1850 and was supposed to be the inspiration for Fagin.

But I've been wondering how Ikey Solomon was supposed to have inspired the Fagin character. After all,there's no evidence of him doing anything that I think of when I think of Fagin other than:

1. He was a fence

2. He was an English Jew from London's East End

3. He was the subject of a high-profile trial in 1830

Even though the link claims that he taught young boys to steal for him in London, I've never read anything about that anywhere else. Ikey did, however, influence my version of Fagin, who's a rather nice guy; a ruthless fence with a heart of gold.

So, to people who might know; just how did Ikey Solomon influence the original Dickens character of Fagin?

edited 14th Aug '13 10:28:32 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

The road goes ever on. -Tolkien
Hodor Cleric of Banjo from Westeros Since: Dec, 1969
Cleric of Banjo
#2: Aug 15th 2013 at 7:11:27 AM

I've read about about Solomon(s) (He's variously known as Isaac Solomon or Ikey Solomons), and I'm not sure there really is much of a link besides "Jewish criminal". I know that Thackeray (who was extremely anti-Semitic) used a pen name of "Ikey Solomons Jr.", so I think Solomon was pretty well known during the time period.

Solomon was a pawnbroker and fence of stolen goods, but I don't think there's any evidence the guy actually had a gang of children stealing for him (although it certainly seems plausible that some of the stuff he was fencing was brought to him by child criminals).

I can't remember if Fagin was supposed to a fence or not. IIRC, he was, but mostly seemed to be interested in hoarding his wealth.

Also kind of interesting is that IIRC he was a pretty young guy when involved in this stuff- like in his 20's and 30's, whereas Fagin was a creepy old man.

I also find it impressive how frequently the guy escaped from police custody. I'd definitely put him up there with Jack Sheppard in the category of Prison Escape Artist.

edited 15th Aug '13 7:14:29 AM by Hodor

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MorwenEdhelwen Aussie Tolkien freak from Sydney, Australia Since: Jul, 2012
Aussie Tolkien freak
#3: Aug 15th 2013 at 2:45:13 PM

Yes, but Ikey Solomon dealt in lace like Fagin. His name appears in songs sung by thieves and convicts. Also, his trial in 1830 was quite high-profile.

edited 15th Aug '13 3:50:55 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

The road goes ever on. -Tolkien
MorwenEdhelwen Aussie Tolkien freak from Sydney, Australia Since: Jul, 2012
Aussie Tolkien freak
#4: Aug 16th 2013 at 10:37:31 PM

bump. Also, the Artful Dodger's inspiration may have been found.

I also found this.

edited 17th Aug '13 4:09:32 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

The road goes ever on. -Tolkien
morwenedhelwen Aussie Tolkien freak from Sydney, Australia Since: Jul, 2012
Aussie Tolkien freak
#5: Aug 24th 2013 at 4:44:51 PM

bump

The road goes ever on. -Tolkien
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