Hard Times.0000000000Hard Times is perhaps the archetypal Dickens novel, full as it is with family difficulties, estrangement, rotten values and unhappiness. It was published in 1854 and it is the story of the family of Thomas Gradgrind, and occurs in the imaginary Coketown, an industrial city inspired by Preston. Gradgrind is a man obsessed with misguided 'Utilitarian' values that make him trust facts, statistics and practicality more than emotion and is based upon James Mill (the Utilitarian leader). He directs his own children, Louisa and Tom, in this same way: enforcing an artless existence upon them. Contemporary critics such as Macaulay savaged the book for its supposed 'sullen socialism' but it has become well thought-of since the favour of George Bernard Shaw.Illustrated by Harry French, with an Afterword by David Stuart Davies. |
Contents
I | 11 |
III | 13 |
IV | 21 |
V | 29 |
VI | 39 |
VII | 47 |
VIII | 65 |
IX | 74 |
XXV | 212 |
XXVI | 228 |
XXVII | 245 |
XXVIII | 262 |
XXIX | 274 |
XXX | 280 |
XXXI | 292 |
XXXII | 298 |
X | 82 |
XI | 93 |
XII | 101 |
XIII | 111 |
XIV | 119 |
XVI | 130 |
XVII | 137 |
XVIII | 148 |
XIX | 155 |
XXI | 173 |
XXII | 185 |
XXIII | 192 |
XXIV | 202 |
XXXIV | 307 |
XXXV | 319 |
XXXVI | 330 |
XXXVII | 343 |
XXXVIII | 354 |
XXXIX | 368 |
XL | 383 |
XLI | 392 |
XLII | 401 |
XLIII | 410 |
XLIV | 411 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
agen asked Bank believe better Bitzer Bounderby of Coketown Bounderby's brother Charles Dickens Childers considered coom cried curtsey dark daughter Dickens door eyes face fact father fellow gentleman girl gone hand head hear heard heart honour hope horthe hour James Harthouse Josiah Bounderby Jupe knew lady light porter looked ma'am manner marriage married McChoakumchild mean mind Miss Gradgrind Miss Louisa morning mother muddle never nine oils observed old Bounderby old woman Pegler poor present Rachael returned Mrs Sparsit round seemed seen Sissy sister Slackbridge Sleary Stephen Blackpool Stone Lodge stood stopped street sure tears tell thee there's thing Thomas Gradgrind thou thought Thquire Tom Gradgrind took town turned voice wait walked wath Westminster School whelp windlass window wonder word young