HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but as matters stood, it was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted face of a savage.' Set in fictitious Coketown, England during the Industrial Revolution of the 1850s, Dickens wished to expose the enormous gulf between the rich and poor through his writing. In Hard Times, the social and moral purpose of his work is at its most evident. Openly ironic and satirical in its tone, Dickens suggests a mechanization of society, where the wealthy are ruthless and uncharitable towards those less fortunate than themselves. Siblings Louisa and Tom Gradgrind are raised by their father, a harsh and pragmatic educator and his influence means that they go on to lead lives that are lacking in all areas. Louisa marries the arrogant and greedy Josiah Bounderby, ending in an unhappy pairing and the unfeeling and villainous Tom robs his own brother-in-law's bank. As their father watches their plight, he realises that his own principles may have led to their downfall. - Highly collectible, these must-have classics should feature in every family's home library. - Striking and recognisable black and white cover designs, achieving stand-out on the bookshelves against the competition. Features include: - A glossary of Classic Literature: Words and Phrases, adapted from the Collins English Dictionary. - A Life & Times section, detailing information about the author, their work and the time of publication. - A History of Collins, exploring the heritage and established reputation of Collins as a publisher of Classic fiction

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