Hard times : For these times / Charles Dickens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dickens, Charles, author.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cleveland : Duke Classics, 2012.

System Details:

Requires OverDrive Read (file size: N/A KB) or Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 1730 KB) or Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 489 KB) or Amazon Kindle (file size: N/A KB) or Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 1729 KB) or Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 482 KB).

Summary:

First published in 1854, Hard Times is a profoundly moving, articulate and searing indictment of the life-reducing effects of the industrial revolution, and certain aspects of enlightenment thinking. Set in the fictional midlands mill-town of Coketown, the narrative centers on the industrialist, Mr Thomas Gradgrind, whose belief in scientific utilitarianism skews his world view and is a motive force, carrying the narrative towards farce and tragedy. Gradgrind's no-nonsense abhorrence of 'fancy' extends to his implementing an ambitious education scheme that aims to exclude all 'nonsense' and keep the minds of young people focused squarely on facts. The book is ultimately an argument in favor of fancy and radical thinking, and a damning critique of industrial capitalism and its exploitation and repression of the workers whose lives were spent (literally) in sustaining the system.

Notes:

Title from eBook information screen.

ISBN:

9781620111789

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.