Synopsis:

In the industrial town of Coketown, England, wealthy retiree Thomas Gradgrind establishes a school rooted in his belief that life should be governed by facts, not imagination. Among his students are his own children, Thomas and Louisa, who are raised on his teachings of rational self-interest, only to grow into adults devoid of love and full of despair. As Gradgrind witnesses the suffering of his children, he is forced to confront the perils of his cold, utilitarian philosophy.

Originally published serially in 1854 and filled with gripping cliff-hangers, Hard Times delves into the lives of various representatives of English society—the fading aristocracy, the burgeoning middle class, impoverished laborers, and wandering circus performers—as they navigate the complexities of Victorian England during the Industrial Revolution.