Hard Times

The Audible Dickens Collection

By: Charles Dickens, Jeremy Paxman

Narrated by: Bertie Carvel, Jeremy Paxman

This exclusive recording of Hard Times contains a unique introduction by Jeremy Paxman in which he takes us through Hard Times as his favourite Dickens title.

To give it its full title, Hard Times - for These Times was Charles Dickens' 10th novel and the only one not to have any scenes set in London. It was first published in 1854 and depicts the struggles that were born as a result of the industrial revolution.

About the book

'Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life.' So says Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy, utilitarian school board superintendent. Father to Tom and Louisa, he shapes the minds of all the young children, including his own, with the exception of only one: the circus-born Sissy Jupe.

As the novel progresses, we see the lives of these three young children unfold, shaped by the beliefs and values they've been taught by their respective fathers and educators. Growing into a beautiful yet miserable young lady, Louisa is wed off to an associate of her father's. Tom, dulled by his strict upbringing, becomes a dissipated, hedonistic gambler, and Sissy, their imaginative, creative and selfless guiding light, seeks to repair the damage done to her friends by years of utilitarian training.

About the author

With his father incarcerated, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels and various articles, novellas and short stories. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became, unlike Josiah Bounderby, the ultimate self-made man.

About the narrator

Known for his versatility and for "making monsters and demons understood", Bertie Carvel has twice won the Olivier Award: for his performances as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda and Rupert Murdoch in Ink. On television he was Jonathan Strange in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Nick Clegg in Coalition and the cheating husband in Doctor Foster. In this definitive audiobook of Hard Times, Carvel's presence and range shine through to gripping effect.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Terrific narrator

I read along and it was far more alive with the narrator. Another Dickens triumph

Classic literature is that for reason

Has much to say an even more so today. What a good day it was when Charles Dickens was borne. I am grateful.

Social change, serialized

Charles Dickens is very large-hearted in any of his social commentary and though I don’t always fall in love with any of the characters or find the story less-than-concise, I love how much he loves people and wants them to be well. Often, the picture of everyday life is one of resilience and if it is of weakness, I can’t remember a place where Dickens doesn’t write with a foundation of compassion.

Bertie Carvel is an excellent reader, always, and I like knowing all the work he does to promote equality and justice in his own sphere is a thread alongside Dickens. More audiobooks by Carvel, please (and I genuinely mean that bc I own all the other ones he’s done).

Fantastic performance!

The narrator captured the voices brilliantly, and the delivery was laugh out loud funny in places. A great listen!

Not bad, but not his best work

You can read the background on why Dickens wrote this book and why it's different then the rest of his canon online. The bottom line is that this is a good book but nowhere near Dicken's best. I'm working my way through this free audible Dickens series and this one was the least engaging, though there are a few classic characters and Dickensian set pieces that will get you through and keep you amused. If you're like me and trying to get through Dickens' whole catalogue, this isn't a bad stop, but for anyone else, the rest have all been better for me so far.