Hard Times is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. It tells the story of Thomas Gradgrind, a strict schoolmaster in the fictional Victorian-era city of Coketown, and his two children, Louisa and Tom. Gradgrind is a proponent of the philosophy of Utilitarianism, which emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. He believes that facts and reason should be the basis of all education, and he attempts to instill this philosophy in his students and his own children. However, his daughter Louisa is more sensitive and imaginative than her father realizes, and she struggles to reconcile her own feelings with her father's strict teachings. Meanwhile, her brother Tom rebels against his father's teachings and falls in with a group of gamblers and criminals. The novel follows the Gradgrind family as they struggle to find their place in the world, and as they come to terms with the consequences of their choices. Along the way, Dickens paints a vivid picture of the industrial city of Coketown and its inhabitants, and explores themes of education, morality, and the human condition.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1842 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Social Criticism, Satire · 37 chapters