HARD TIMES
Reading edition
Published 1854
Scene:Coketown (an English factory town) and the Country.
Time:About 1850
CHARACTERS
Mr. GradgrindA believer in "facts"
Mrs. GradgrindHis wife
LouisaTheir daughter
TomTheir son
Josiah BounderbyA pompous mill owner and banker
Later, Louisa's husband
"Mrs. Pegler"His mother
Mrs. SparsitHis housekeeper
Mr. M'ChoakumchildA schoolmaster
SlearyThe proprietor of a circus
"Signor" JupeThe clown
Cecelia JupeHis daughter. Known as "Sissy"
Stephen Blackpool Rachel Mill workers
James HarthouseA man of the world
"Merrylegs"Signor Jupe's performing dog