• The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to Hard Times

  • By: David Timson
  • Length: 25 mins
  • 3.6 out of 5 stars (59 ratings)
The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to Hard Times  By  cover art

The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to Hard Times

By: David Timson

Publisher's summary

David Timson talks about Charles Dickens, much loved for his great contribution to classic English Literature. Listen to Hard Times narrated by Anton Lesser.

Hard Times is Dickens's most political novel. Set in the industrial north of England, in Coketown, he examines the lives of working people, who are taught by the capitalists Gradgrind and Bounderby to think only of the facts of life and not to indulge in imagination. Gradgrind’s own children have been so educated and as a result are dysfunctional and disconnected from their feelings. Only the travelling circus company of Sleary seems to offer any hope of humanity in Coketown. Hard Times is a deeply moving story written in anger to strike a blow for the victims of the dehumanising processes of industry.

Listen to Hard Times by Charles Dickens.

©2012 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

What listeners say about The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to Hard Times

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

For the price (free) - of interest to Dickens fans

I didn’t yet read (or listen to) Hard Times and it is on my wishlist. This was interesting as an introduction, and we got to hear samples of a different reader - Anton Lesser - which were quite good, so that you could consider this a promotion for that edition of Hard Times (but pay attention - there is an abridged and an unabridged, which is what any Dickens fan would go for). If you are a Dickens fan, sure, why not listen to this?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

No Book Included

I was really hoping for an introduction and the book, but that didn't happen. I will be careful in my picking next time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!