Hard Times by Charles Dickens
For These Times
This novel presents a social critique of industrial Victorian England through the story of the Gradgrind family. The patriarch, a staunch believer in the practicality of facts and statistics, raises his children in a sterile, emotionless environment, causing his daughter to enter a loveless marriage and his son to become a dissipated gambler. The narrative explores themes of industrialization, utilitarianism, and the dehumanizing effects of mechanization on the working class, ultimately advocating for a balanced education that includes both facts and feelings.
The 1772nd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1854
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 272-352
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.6)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Hard Times By Charles Dickens
- Hard Times for These Times
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 7 lists:
- 10th on Top 25 Pre-20th Century Classics (The Guardian)
- 100th on 100 Must-Read Classics, as Chosen by our Readers (Penguin (UK))
- 118th on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- 4141st on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics (Book)