{"product_id":"hard-times-9781513219189","title":"Hard Times","description":"\u003cp\u003e Set in an industrial city in Northern England during the Victorian era, Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy and retired man, devotes his life to the rationalist philosophy, and raises his children, Louisa and Tom, to never engage in any imaginative activity. The two grow up feeling confused, like something is missing in their lives, yet are unable figure out what exactly that is and affected differently by their upbringing. Louisa struggles to feel joy, and Tom struggles to find ethical standards. When Josiah Bounderby, a crass, rich man, asks for Louisa's hand in marriage, she cannot find a rational reason not to marry him. He would elevate her social status, was a friend of her father, and employed her brother at his bank. She decides to marry Bounderby, despite feeling no love for him. Meanwhile, Stephen, a poor laborer in one of the city's factories, who is struggling under the oppression of the upper classes, meets Tom and Louisa, inspiring them in different ways. When the city is shocked by a scandalous and devastating bank robbery, Stephen, Tom, and Louisa's lives are forever changed, and Gradgrind must question the strict beliefs on which he relies. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHard Times\u003c\/i\u003e by \u003cb\u003eCharles Dickens\u003c\/b\u003e is revered not only for its skillfully constructed prose, but also its critique of capitalist and utilitarian philosophy. \u003cb\u003eDickens'\u003c\/b\u003e empathetic portrayal of the effects of such beliefs raises concern and advocates for the conservation of human creativity and joy in a way that is still applicable today. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e With an eye-catching cover design and a modern font, \u003ci\u003eHard Times\u003c\/i\u003e by \u003cb\u003eCharles Dickens\u003c\/b\u003e is a thought-provoking novel written by the greatest and most influential writers of the Victorian era. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSince our inception in 2020, \u003cb\u003eMint Editions\u003c\/b\u003e has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDickens, Charles:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharles Dickens\u003c\/b\u003e (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, \u003cb\u003eDickens\u003c\/b\u003e had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term \"cliffhanger endings\" was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. \u003cb\u003eDickens'\u003c\/b\u003e political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children's rights, education, and other social reforms. \u003cb\u003eDickens\u003c\/b\u003e advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as \u003ci\u003eThe Christmas Carol\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHard Times. \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mint Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50861843054866,"sku":"9781513219189","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_049522fc-4d36-4f11-98c7-c6a12135ec93.jpg?v=1737606123","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/hard-times-9781513219189","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}