Hard Times cover art

Hard Times

 Preview
Prime Member Exclusive

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Hard Times

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Peter Batchelor
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £13.34

Buy Now for £13.34

One of Dicken’s best works appraising English society. Highlights the social and economic pressures of the times. A masterwork.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media Classics
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant
Hard Times indeed, the many characters are all so well written, as Dickens always does.

Peter Batchelor’s narration is excellent, how does he keep tabs on the vast cast list he’s presenting. I’ll search Peter Batchelor for other books.

Thank you.

A narrator Dickens would approve of

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An excellent rendition of one of Dicken's shorter novels (some of the northern pronunciations were a little dodgy but it didn't spoil the telling) . I loved it

what a bargain

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Listening to Batchelor narrate this classic novel is like savouring every mouthful of your favourite food.

Bachelor's narration of this classic is pure class

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Peter Bachelor does a fair job of it. The sound is a little low in quality which can be a struggle when some of the less annunciated characters speak. can't complain for the price though.

Pretty good work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Hard Times is an excellent example of Dickens social commentary, it also has the merit of being one of his shortest.

Set in the fictional Coketown, it follows industrial manufacturers and circus performers in an examination of morality and money, fact and fancy. The hard, emotionless upbringing that Mr Gradgrind insists on for his children impacts the decisions they make as they grow. Dickens is criticising the emerging capitalism of the time and how a life focused purely on money is empty and cold.

Peter Batchelor gives an average performance. His voice is amazing but he doesn't truly bring the characters to life. Dickens are some of my favourite books to listen to rather than read because of their length and structure, if you wish to get in to Dickens I recommend you start with this one.

Dickens does Dickens

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews