Episodes
22
Avg. Duration
30m
Activity
Dormant
Since
Sep 2025
Latest Episode
Sep 2025
Publishing Details
Schedule
Hourly
Format
Serial
Hosting
www.spreaker.com
Contact & Outreach
About This Podcast
Hard Times was Dickens's shortest novel and the only one to be set in the industrial north of England. A fast moving story with a typical cast of larger than life characters, the novel is a vehicle for a humanist critique of both utilitarian education ('Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts', says Mr. Gradgrind in the opening paragraph) and the mutual antagonism between capital and the trade union. A humanist education system, it turns out, is Dickens's solution to the class struggle. Hard Times is set in the fictional Coketown and was partly inspired by a visit to Preston during the factory lockout that brought the town's industry to a standstill in 1853. This version is read as it appeared in 20 issues of Dickens's weekly Household Words from April to August 1854. It is followed by two earlier articles - Locked Out and On Strike - that describe Dickens' visit to Preston and do much to clarify his thinking on education and class conflict. - Summary by Phil Benson
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
On Strike
Sep 16, 2025
36m
Transcript
Locked Out
Sep 16, 2025
19m
Transcript
12 August 1854 - Chapters 35-36
Sep 16, 2025
54m
Transcript
5 August 1854 - Chapters 33-34
Sep 16, 2025
42m
Transcript
29 July 1854 - Chapters 31-32
Sep 16, 2025
42m
Transcript
22 July 1854 - Chapters 29-30
Sep 16, 2025
34m
Transcript
15 July 1854 - Chapters 27-28
Sep 16, 2025
30m
Transcript
8 July 1854 - Chapters 25-26
Sep 16, 2025
29m
Transcript
1 July 1854 - Chapter 24
Sep 16, 2025
29m
Transcript
24 June 1854 - Chapter 23
Sep 16, 2025
28m
Transcript
17 June 1854 - Chapter 22
Sep 16, 2025
27m
10 June 1854 - Chapters 20-21
Sep 16, 2025
34m
3 June 1854 - Chapters 18-19
Sep 16, 2025
29m
27 May 1854 - Chapter 17
Sep 16, 2025
29m
20 May 1854 - Chapters 15-16
Sep 16, 2025
30m
13 May 1854 - Chapters 13-14
Sep 16, 2025
28m
6 May 1854 - Chapters11-12
Sep 16, 2025
29m
29 April 1854 - Chapters 9-10
Sep 16, 2025
29m
22 April 1854 - Chapters 7-8
Sep 16, 2025
28m
15 April 1854 - Chapter 6
Sep 16, 2025
29m
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hard Times by Charles Dickens have?
Hard Times by Charles Dickens has published 22 episodes since September 2025, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Is Hard Times by Charles Dickens still active?
Hard Times by Charles Dickens is currently dormant with new episodes hourly. Average episode length is 30m.
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