{"product_id":"9781775411130","title":"Hard Times: For these Times","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst published in 1854, \u003ci\u003eHard Times\u003c\/i\u003e is a profoundly moving, articulate and searing indictment of the life-reducing effects of the industrial revolution, and certain aspects of enlightenment thinking. Set in the fictional midlands mill-town of Coketown, the narrative centers on  the industrialist, Mr Thomas Gradgrind, whose belief in scientific utilitarianism skews his world view and is a motive force, carrying the narrative towards farce and tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGradgrind's no-nonsense abhorrence of 'fancy' extends to his implementing an ambitious education scheme that aims to exclude all 'nonsense' and keep the minds of young people focused squarely on facts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book is ultimately an argument in favor of fancy and radical thinking, and a damning critique of industrial capitalism and its exploitation and repression of the workers whose lives were spent (literally) in sustaining the system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Floating Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47131239284976,"sku":"9781775411130","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781775411130_p0.jpg?v=1763709362","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781775411130","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}