Hard Times (version 2), Locked Out and On Strike
Charles Dickens
Hard Times was Dickens's shortest novel and the only one to be set in the industrial north of England. A fast moving story with a typical cast of larger than life characters, the novel is a vehicle for a humanist critique of both utilitarian education ('Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts', says Mr. Gradgrind in the opening paragraph) and the mutual antagonism between capital and the trade union. A humanist education system, it turns out, is Dickens's solution to the class struggle. Hard Times is set in the fictional Coketown and was partly inspired by a visit to Preston during the factory lockout that brought the town's industry to a standstill in 1853. This version is read as it appeared in 20 issues of Dickens's weekly Household Words from April to August 1854. It is followed by two earlier articles - Locked Out and On Strike - that describe Dickens' visit to Preston and do much to clarify his thinking on education and class conflict. - Summary by Phil Benson
Author - Charles Dickens.
Narrator - Phil Benson.
Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.
Location:
United States
Description:
Hard Times was Dickens's shortest novel and the only one to be set in the industrial north of England. A fast moving story with a typical cast of larger than life characters, the novel is a vehicle for a humanist critique of both utilitarian education ('Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts', says Mr. Gradgrind in the opening paragraph) and the mutual antagonism between capital and the trade union. A humanist education system, it turns out, is Dickens's solution to the class struggle. Hard Times is set in the fictional Coketown and was partly inspired by a visit to Preston during the factory lockout that brought the town's industry to a standstill in 1853. This version is read as it appeared in 20 issues of Dickens's weekly Household Words from April to August 1854. It is followed by two earlier articles - Locked Out and On Strike - that describe Dickens' visit to Preston and do much to clarify his thinking on education and class conflict. - Summary by Phil Benson Author - Charles Dickens. Narrator - Phil Benson. Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:00:28:17
Chapter 2
Duration:00:30:09
Chapter 3
Duration:00:29:47
Chapter 4
Duration:00:28:42
Chapter 5
Duration:00:29:45
Chapter 6
Duration:00:29:19
Chapter 7
Duration:00:28:38
Chapter 8
Duration:00:30:07
Chapter 9
Duration:00:29:23
Chapter 10
Duration:00:29:08
Chapter 11
Duration:00:34:22
Chapter 12
Duration:00:27:01
Chapter 13
Duration:00:28:24
Chapter 14
Duration:00:29:27
Chapter 15
Duration:00:29:01
Chapter 16
Duration:00:30:32
Chapter 17
Duration:00:33:58
Chapter 18
Duration:00:42:01
Chapter 19
Duration:00:42:49
Chapter 20
Duration:00:54:02
Chapter 21
Duration:00:19:29
Chapter 22
Duration:00:36:47