The Reading Warehouse

Do you want to snuggle in with a good historical fiction book? Hard Times - also known as Hard Times: For These Times - is a satirical novel that makes a statement about the social and economic conditions of the 19^th century. It was written by Charles Dickens and first published in 1854. It is Dickens' tenth and shortest novel.

The story unfolds in the Coketown, which is a small, fictitious, English town in the Victorian industrial era. It is a depressing place, filled with black soot, belching chimneys, brick, and machinery. The schoolmaster there, Thomas Gradgrind, seems to have the singular purpose of hammering facts and statistics into the minds of his students without encouraging independent thought or creativity. Whether intentional or not, his philosophy serves to starve the soul while feeding the mind. His inflexibility and demands of conformity not only damage his pupils, but also leads to the destruction of his own family unit. The novel is laced with satire. Dickens expertly mocks the social and economic situations of the times while entertaining his readers complex characters and a thick, rich plot that will intrigue you to the very end.

This beautiful reprint of the original story is unabridged and unedited, preserving Hard Times for your reading pleasure. It is one of the best historical fiction books and has been a historical fiction best seller for over 165 years It makes a wonderful gift for the classic fiction fan in your life or a wonderful addition to your library of classic literature. Enjoy

Excerpt:

"Mr. Gradgrind walked homeward from the school, in a state of considerable satisfaction. It was his school, and he intended it to be a model. He intended every child in it to be a model-just as the young Gradgrinds were all models."

Features:

• Original 1854 Text
• Classic Political Satire & Historical Fiction Novel
• Dimensions: 6x9 inches
• Matte Cover