Charles Dickens
First published in 1854, Hard Times is a profoundly moving, articulate and searing indictment of the life-reducing effects of the industrial revolution, and certain aspects of enlightenment thinking. Set in the fictional midlands mill-town of Coketown, the narrative centers on the industrialist, Mr Thomas Gradgrind, whose belief in scientific utilitarianism skews his world view and is a motive force, carrying the narrative towards farce
...Taking a cue from his love of pleasure travel and people-watching, in 1860 Charles Dickens developed a new persona he called the "Uncommercial Traveller." In the series of essays written from this perspective, Dickens describes his long, leisurely walks around London and occasional jaunts to other locales. This charming collection highlights Dickens attention to detail and his keen powers of observation.
25) The Chimes
26) A House to Let
Ready to dive into a nautical mystery? The Wreck of the Golden Mary is a collaborative work from the minds of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, two of the most popular nineteenth-century British writers of fiction. The Golden Mary is sunk by an iceberg under mysterious circumstances, and the rescue efforts devolve into chaos. Will the passengers survive?
30) Reprinted Pieces
34) Doctor Marigold
Master of Victorian fiction Charles Dickens was at his best when comparing and contrasting different classes of society. In this imaginative short story, a traveling circus sets up shop in an affluent neighborhood. When the performers begin mingling with the community's bankers and businessmen, hijinks ensue.
This charming collection of sketches from Victorian literary master Charles Dickens brings together a number of pieces that were originally published in various popular periodicals of the era. Most notable are the tales about the imaginary town of Mudfog, which detail, among other things, the political ascendancy and personal devolution of the town's mayor, as well as the lofty ambitions and intellectual pretensions of the town's scientific society.
...37) Hunted Down
Charles Dickens was the literary superstar who singlehandedly set the bar for popular fiction in the mid to late nineteenth century. As a result of his fame, Dickens was also in great demand as a speaker. This collection brings together dozens of the author's lectures and talks on topics ranging from the literature of the day to the toughest social issues.