Hard Times (Annotated)

Large print edition. Font is Atkinson Hyperlegible (size 16).Annotated with tasks to aid reading comprehension.Illustrated and unabridged. Note that Dickens uses a lot of non-standard spellings in this book.Hard Times was a very popular, socially-relevant book in its day. It is a book of contrasts and one of Dickens more political books exploring some important social concerns of the time. Criticising the living conditions of the working class and the indifference of educators and factory owners, Dickens shows that people need art and imagination to be happy and whole. As in many of his other books, he highlights the stark divide between rich and poor, and the plight of children. The novel features strong characters; Louisa is a complex, tragic figure and the protagonist of the book, while her wealthy, ’practical’ father, Gradgrind, plays the central role. The novel is split into three parts, suggesting we reap what we sow, and then how we resolve these outcomes.