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)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
cloverkite
  • Rated 5 stars

Others might say it's a boring novel but what we must always remember about "Hard Times" is that it's an industrial novel that does not aim to appeal to the romantic side of things. It aims to represent truth and values and the harshness that comes with learning them in the society. With its caricature characters, all of which are symbolic, it's constant allusion to biblical verses conveying the same values, and the mocking of the defects of society "Hard Times", I think, is one of Dickens'...

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Didn’t Like It

Katie H
  • Rated 2 stars

I found this book boring - simple as that.

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Community:
  • Rated 3.532637 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 3.583333 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • 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
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