Hard Times

The story unfolds in the bleak, industrial town of Coketown, characterized by its grim factories and oppressed workers. Central to the narrative are the rigid utilitarian Thomas Gradgrind and the callous factory owner Josiah Bounderby, who embody the harsh realities of the era. The book explores themes of social injustice, the dehumanizing effects of industrialization, and the conflict between utilitarian ideals and human compassion.