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Hard Times: for These Times (Collected Works of Charles Dickens)Hard Times: for These Times (Collected Works of Charles Dickens)Charles Dickens
 

Hard Times: for These Times (Collected Works of Charles Dickens)

by Charles Dickens

Coketown is dominated by the figure of Mr Thomas Gradgrind, school headmaster and model of Utilitarian success. Feeding both his pupils and family with facts, he bans fancy and wonder from any young minds. As a consequence, his obedient daughter Louisa marries the loveless businessman and 'bully of humanity' Mr Bounderby, and his son Tom rebels to become embroiled in gambling and robbery. And,... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  classic,  literature,  dickens,  19th century (all tags)

Discussions

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  • Anna G

    anna g said:

    “I loved this bookwhile I was in the middle of a great depression. It made me feel like my life just wasn't soooo bad. It is about Poverty and working hard, having no hope and making the most of what you have in life... ok it is still boring.”

    posted Sunday, July 20 2008
  • Cherona W

    cherona w said:

    “is there much reason for me to read this book? As loads of people have said that they didn't like it”

    posted Sunday, July 20 2008
  • s d

    s d said:

    “this a very inresting book its about industrial revolution i like it so much”

    posted Saturday, January 19 2008
  • Liqabang M

    liqabang m said:

    “Ask a question, kick off a discussion, or just talk about this book...it
    Everything in this book is a muddle. Facts alone must be taught to children. Mrs Sparsit was always curious about gossip, who did what to whom yesterday, today. She would sacrifice her own life hunting for other people's business while she could not even enjoy her own life. Is it good to mind other people's business? What was wrong with this woman? ”

    posted Thursday, December 13 2007
  • Ali Qazi

    ali qazi said:

    “it is great peace of writing that reflects the social, economical and political picture of England passing through a transitional period. ”

    posted Wednesday, December 12 2007
  • leba

    leba said:

    “befor u reading this novel u must take alot of drugs to understanding it.." thats my advice " if u doing it you'll feeling the real story in this novel between LOIZA & ........ !!!!!
    have anice time with Charles Dickens.. " leba "..”

    posted Sunday, November 25 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
  • littlelegs

    littlelegs said:

    “Magwitch from Great Expectations. A long story, but my Grandmother was Findlay Currie's Housekeeper (he played Magwitch brilliantly in David Lean's film David Copperfield).My other favourites (so many) are Smike, Wackford Squeers Peggoty & Jingle”

    posted Wednesday, June 6 2007
  • Lady Dixie

    lady dixie said:

    “I love Flora Finching from _Little Dorrit_. She starts out as a parody of Dickens's first girlfriend, Maria Beadnell, but as the novel progresses, she becomes more selfless. She's very funny and kind -- and always a little bit breathless.

    It's hard to narrow it down to one favorite. I also love Little Nell, Quilp (he's so deliciously evil!), Smike, Mr. Dick, Aunt Betsey, Mr. Micawber, Scrooge, Sydney Carton, Sairey Gamp, Esther Summerson, and on and on.”

    posted Sunday, May 27 2007
  • Yesssd

    yesssd said:

    “Mark Tapley of Martin Chuzzlewit is my favorite Dickens character, his humor, his spirit is what's so special to me. ”

    posted Wednesday, May 23 2007
  • Rowan sees children eager to learn, not colors

    rowan sees children eager to learn, not colors said:

    “I am having such problems thinking of favorites. L:et me begin by saying that if A Christmas Carol is done in our local theatre, my dad wants to be Mr, Feezziwig and I want to try out for Mrs, Feezziwig. To me that is such a moving scene. To watch the Fezziwigs dance together happily and have fun.

    Another char is the ghost of christmass past = knowing the past makes this ghoset even more evil.”

    posted Wednesday, April 25 2007
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