-Hard Times*

E, Reprint by Charles Dickens

"Hard Times" is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1854. Set in the fictional industrial town of Coketown, it explores the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution. The story criticizes the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and the utilitarian philosophy, which values productivity over human compassion. Through the lives of characters like Thomas Gradgrind, who emphasizes facts and statistics over emotions, and the impoverished workers like Stephen Blackpool, Dickens highlights the social injustices and moral dilemmas of the era. The novel is a poignant reflection on the need for balance between progress and humanity.