Hard Times cover art

Hard Times

An Accurate Retelling of Charles Dickens' Timeless Classic

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Hard Times

By: Charles Dickens, Gill Tavner
Narrated by: Graham Bill
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About this listen

Hard Times is one of a series of retellings of classic literature by publisher Real Reads. True to the original plot, characters and themes, Real Reads also imitate the original author's style. An intelligent, lively and enjoyable retelling of this classic tale.

Louisa Gradgrind is the practical daughter of a powerful industrialist. Sissy is the imaginative daughter of a clown. What will happen when two such different lives collide? A disappearing father, an unhappy marriage, a handsome suitor and a bank robbery all bring challenges to Louisa's life. Will she be able to control her powerful emotions or will they lead her to ruin?

Set amongst the noisy, dangerous factories of an industrial town, where the workers struggle to survive, 'Hard Times' explores the power that people can have over others, and the suffering that is caused when human emotions are ignored.

©2007 Gill Tavner (P)2007 Gill Tavner
Classics

Critic reviews

"Miniature masterpieces." (BBC Radio 4 Open Book)
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