Super Short Summary

Hard Times by Charles Dickens is a satirical novel set in the fictitious industrial city of Coketown, England. It follows Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy merchant who promotes a rational, fact-based philosophy, as he raises his children, Tom and Louisa, and a girl named Sissy, in adherence to his ideas. The narrative explores issues of education, social inequality, and personal happiness in an industrial society. The book features depictions of blackface, harmful substance use, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.