By: Charles Dickens
Only about 300 pages (short for Dickens indeed), Hard Times felt a bit unsatisfying, almost skeletal. Several characters assume a nearly caricatural aspect as plot progresses in a wholly predictable manner. In the end, our protagonists rejoice at aiding a cur of a man fleeing the law; regardless of family connections or the nature of the criminal's pursuers, I found myself wholly rooting for the opposition, a rather disconcerting experience. Although there are moments of keen insight and delightfully dark humor, Hard Times is far surpassed by such works as Bleak House or A Tale Of Two Cities. (Fiction) 08/12/09
