Hard Times cover art

Hard Times

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Hard Times

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
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About this listen

Hard Times is Dickens's most political novel. Set in the industrial north of England, in Coketown, he examines the lives of working people, who are taught by the capitalists Gradgrind and Bounderby to think only of the facts of life and not to indulge in imagination. Gradgrind’s own children have been so educated and as a result are dysfunctional and disconnected from their feelings. Only the travelling circus company of Sleary seems to offer any hope of humanity in Coketown. Hard Times is a deeply moving story written in anger to strike a blow for the victims of the dehumanising processes of industry.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Public Domain (P)2011 Naxos AudioBooks Classics

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All stars
Most relevant
Brilliant narration of an unexpectedly great read. Would highly recommend to anyone usually daunted by dickens.

Dickens made easy

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Much easier to get through the book with this. Listen at speed 1.3, bit slow.

Well read!

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Had to read this as part of my degree it’s certainly not my usual type of novel. Having said that I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. However Anton Lesser is AMAZING he brought the characters to life and made it much more bearable and easier to listen to. I can’t believe how many different voices he did my favourite was Mrs Sparsit and Josiah Bounderby. Would definitely recommend this particular audiable.

Hard work quite hard going

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Narration excellent. Enjoyed every minute from beginning to end. Had no difficulty in listening to the end.

Dickens at his best.

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If you could sum up Hard Times in three words, what would they be?

hard to read.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Times?

character descriptions.

What does Anton Lesser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

brilliantly read and brilliantly accented he brings the characters alive.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened while I walked the dogs round the park in the morning and at night. sometimes I had to go round twice.

Any additional comments?

I find reading quite hard and especially dickens. This way of reading /listening brings all the book to life.

brilliant.

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