Hard Times, one of the most widely read of Dickens' major novels, is both a captivating story and an illuminating indictment of capitalist exploitation during the Industrial Revolution. The hard lessons wrought by zealous materialism awaken characters to a new philosophy, and to hope. From fact-worshipping Mr. Gradgrind, to eternally noble Stephen Blackpool, to endearing Sissy Jupe, Martin Jarvis masterfully portrays each of the unforgettable characters. "Dickens was in the full flower of his talent when he wrote Hard Times, and this performance is a tribute to him. "-- AudioFileCharles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most celebrated and prolific English novelists. Many of his works first appeared in monthly installments, notably Oliver Twist (1837-39), David Copperfield (1849-50), and Great Expectations (1860-61). Hard Times (1854) was published in weekly installments in Dickens' magazine, Household Words. Martin Jarvis has been named Reader of the Year by the British Spoken Word Publishers Association, and has won Audie Awards for Carry On, Jeeves, and The Third Man. He also performs David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and The Essential King James Bible.