Hard Times

The tenth novel written by Dickens, "e;Hard Times"e; was first published in 1854. The story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial mill-town of Coketown and examines English society while satirising the social and economic conditions of the era. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "e;Oliver Twist"e; or "e;A Christmas Carol"e;, Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "e;The Pickwick Papers"e;, which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from "e;Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens"e; by G. K. Chesterton.