I have been reading Dickens in close to publication order. The uniqueness of Hard Times, book ten, was very obvious after reading the first two chapters. The village of Coketown assumes a leading character role with great care put into its development. An interesting side note is this book was published one year after Elizebeth Gaskell published Cranford, a book where Cranford becomes a main character.

Hard Time is soaked with spirituality including many biblical references. He includes a story of a “Prodigal Father” as well as the martyrdom of Stephen. The three books within Hard Times are Sowing, Reaping and Garnering. The book is full morality stories addressing utilitarianism, overwhelming greed, inequitable distribution of income, economics determining societal privilege, the consequences of love versus self interest, and the great character Cecilia, the a Christ-like mystic, who transcends the physical, intellectual and emotional worlds. I do appreciate the turn Dickens takes during the peak of his writing skills and highly recommend this book!