Hard Times
The Audible Dickens Collection
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Hard Times
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Narrated by:
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Bertie Carvel
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Jeremy Paxman
About this listen
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.
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What listeners say about Hard Times
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PAUL
- 06-09-21
The Very Best of Audible
A great book and a wonderful performance by Bertie Carvel. Loved it. The last chapter, Final, did come across as a little rushed though. The author of this book, in 1854, clearly had many deadlines.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ck
- 14-05-20
Fabulous.
All of this Dickens Collection series have been great. Read so well. What a skill to convey all the characters and voices with just one reader. You really believe you are listening to a full cast. Takes you right back to Dickens' time. Only got Pickwick Papers and Edwin Drood left...
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mark Larson
- 25-11-18
Dickens brought to life.
This is an unusual book among Dickens's work but it's very good and the narration is outstanding.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colin Consterdine
- 05-03-23
Wonderful reading
Excellent reader. Really too quality, he inhabited the characters so incredibly well. A real treat
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- WEP
- 07-12-23
Outstanding
Bertie Carvel’s performance is seamless brilliance from beginning to end. One of Dickens’ shortest novels - I wish it had been longer.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Vonny Milonny
- 10-01-21
very well narrated
The story was ok, not my favourite by Charles Dickens. For me the story was made by the Narration.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roly
- 02-07-23
Hard times indeed !
As a story, less gripping than many of his other novels and despite an apparent simplicity highlights key social themes of women’s rights and worker exploitation in Victorian Britain.
A tragic story with great characters, well performed.
Many of the characters are fatally flawed, certainly Stephen … but the entire cast are victims of the social set up. Significantly there are reflections of current Britain… with gulfs between the haves and have-not, industrial action, as health care and education are under threat.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mary astute shopper
- 17-02-24
Classic book classically read
Liked the character differentiation through voice. Shame about a few audio edit errors where sentences repeats have been left in.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- keith Billington
- 18-01-21
First rate narration of a Dickens classic.
One of Dickens's best novels beautifully read with great characterisation. A version to listen to again an enjoy anew.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anna
- 07-01-22
Brilliant narration
All of my stars are for Bertie Carvel's performance, he elevates this book and makes you care deeply for the characters, simply outstanding.
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