Hard Times was first published as a serial in Charles Dickens’s weekly periodical Household Words in 37 chapters, which appeared over twenty weeks from 1 April 1854 to 12 August 1854. A complete volume was published in August. The novel was divided into three parts, ‘Sowing‘ (16 chapters), ‘Reaping‘ (12 chapters) and ‘Garnering‘ (9 chapters).
You can read all of the Charles Dickens novel Hard Times at The Circumlocution Office. Use the chapter links below to access that particular chapter. We have included some prominent quotations from our archive of quotations from the novel.
Book 2: Reaping.
CHAPTER 1. EFFECTS IN THE BANK.
The whole town seemed to be frying in oil.
Hard Times (Bk. 2, Ch. 1). Coketown bakes on a hot summer day.
CHAPTER 2. MR. JAMES HARTHOUSE.
CHAPTER 3. THE WHELP.
CHAPTER 4. MEN AND BROTHERS.
Hard Times (Bk.2, Ch. 4). Trade union organiser Slackbridge pauses during a passionate speech.
CHAPTER 5. MEN AND MASTERS.
What I know, I know; and what you know, you know. I have no more to say about it.
Hard Times (Bk.2, Ch. 5). Josiah Bounderby dismisses the concerns of Stephen Blackpool.
CHAPTER 6. FADING AWAY.
CHAPTER 7. GUNPOWDER.
I never in my life saw anything so remarkable and so captivating as the lighting of those features!
Hard Times (Bk.2, Ch.7).
CHAPTER 8. EXPLOSION.
CHAPTER 9. HEARING THE LAST OF IT.
CHAPTER 10. MRS. SPARSIT’S STAIRCASE.
CHAPTER 11. LOWER AND LOWER.
CHAPTER 12. DOWN.