Dickens’s fable about the dark side of utilitarianism is set in smoke-blackened Coketown. Schoolteacher Gradgrind demanded ’Facts, Facts, Facts’ from his pupils, thus practising the harsh principles by which he raised – and ruined – his own children, and which he would ultimately reject. The death of the noble-hearted worker, Stephen Blackpool, symbolises the cruel force of the factory system. Goodness and tenderness are found in the circus people, outside the realm of industry and politics. The brilliant Anton Lesser brings out all this harsh novel’s humanity.

…in his reading of Hard Times, Anton Lesser finds the perfect voice for every inhabitant of Coketown, from the major players – ’the inflexible, dry and dictatorial’ schoolmaster Gradgrind; circus man Mr Sleary, who lisps away ’like the efforts of a broken old pair of bellows’ – right down to the last subdued schoolgirl. It’s a masterclass and makes for lively listening.

Anton Lesser finds the emotive force behind Dickens’s bleak social commentary, Hard Times, and gives it a unique reading. Dickens’s stock characters are fleshed out by Lesser’s quavering voice and given outward emotions, making these Victorian-era personas more accessible to contemporary listeners. Atypical for a Dickens story, Hard Times lacks any comic relief and reads like a case study of the industrial and utilitarian culture and how the inhabitants of a town built around those ideals are beaten down by it. By reading with a voice more suited to a period romance, Lesser places the emphasis on the feelings of the characters, effectively softening the edges of Hard Times.

Hard Times is Dickens’s most political novel. Taking place in the industrial burg of Coke­town, the drama among the characters illustrates the author’s view of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and utilitarianism on the lives of all involved and is essentially a ‘moral fable’ illustrating the principle that one reaps what one sows.
VERDICT: Anton Lesser, a classical actor and an award-winning audiobook reader, gives a spirited reading, bringing out the character of each persona – the dictatorial Gradgrind, the pompous Bounderby, and the meek Sissy – with skill and verve. An entertaining and captivating listening experience; all libraries should consider.

Fans of Naxos’ acclaimed recordings will recognize Lesser’s distinctive British voice in his exceptional reading of Dickens’s classic. What sets the audio apart is Lesser’s skill in establishing the novel’s tone and characters, both key elements in the impact of the story. The setting is Coketown, an English industrial town where pollution fills the air with grime, and the working-class inhabitants with despair. From the opening passages, Lesser sets the stage for conflict in his portrayal of capitalist Gradgrind in arrogant and plummy tones. His reading captures the broadly drawn characters, from greasy, money-grabbing Bounderby and gentle agitator Stephen Blackpool, who seeks a better life, to disdained Sissy, who brings a warming presence to smoggy Coketown. Lesser savors the descriptive passages, darkening his tones to
reflect the dirty, industrialized north region and painting a dire picture of dying humanity. He employs both humor and drama into briskly rendered conversations in north country accents, affording listeners an intimate glimpse of the players and their actions. Lesser’s masterful depiction of colorful prose enlivens the author’s incisive social commentary and heartwarming melodrama. A wonderful introduction to the pleasures of Victorian novels and Dickens’ powerful story.