Nunca dejemos de leer a Dickens

Despite my initial distasteful response and the downright discouraging reviews from a few of the Dickensian group, I found that after the YA phase of the novel, the writing was outstanding. Tom is a despicable spoiled rotten character while the poor characters have so much dignity.
Dicken's lampooning of the rich is a treat to read.

This is my first Dickens outside of A Christmas Carol. I really enjoyed it, although I have nothing to compare it to in terms of his writing. Published in 1854, it is set in Coketown, a fictitious factory town in England. The central premise of this book is established early on (p. 11) when Thomas Gradgrind is alarmed to find two of his children peeking in on a circus. This after he has delivered his philosophy on the main point of life to the local teacher, Mr. M'Choakumchild:

"Now what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else . . . nothing else will ever be of service to them."

Thus the struggle is illuminated of trying stamp out fancy in hearts and minds in order to keep people focused on the straight and narrow, the religion of facts, facts, facts. Heaven forbid they would have an imagination or some fun! All hell might break loose.

As I read Hard Times, I kept thinking that the world has changed dramatically since 1854, but human nature has not. This tale plays out every day in the 21st Century; we can easily connect the dots between Dickens' characters and the players in modern society. The hardhearted factory owner who tells lies and boasts of his generosity while oppressing and criticizing the workers, or "hands". The downtrodden "hands" just trying to eek out a living. The "bad influence" slackers and sycophants angling to get their share with no effort. The circus entertainers, just trying to spread a little joy before being run out of town. The union organizer, trying to incite the hands to revolt. To name a few.

I loved Dickens' writing. While critical of the industrialization of society, it was written with his trademark energy and humor. The names he gave people particularly tickled me. Mr. M'Choakumchild! And of course, this being Dickens (I have seen the movies, after all!) the story resolves to his more balanced and upbeat philosophy on life, expressed by Mr. Sleary, the circus owner, speaking in his characteristic lisp to Mr. Gradgrind:

People mutht be amuthed. They can't be alwayth a learning, nor yet they can't be alwayth a working, they an't made for it. . . . Do the withe thing and the kind thing too, and make the betht of uth, not the wurtht!"

I listened to Hard Times, wonderfully brought to life by Simon Prebble. There were so many passages I wanted to reflect on so I checked out The Everyman's Library edition from my local library. I have fallen in love with these classics editions which have so much helpful information which put a particular book in context and which help me relate to and enjoy a classic book even more than I might otherwise.