Books

Both the first and second US editions of Hard Times, the shortest, but also arguably the most political, of Dickens's novels, as well as being the only novel set entirely outside of London. The novel was first published in Britain in Household Words from April to August 1854, and in book form on 7 August 1854. The novel was first published in the US by T. L. McElrath, who paid $1,500 for the advance sheets of the final parts of the UK edition, on 8 August 1854. This copy is in Smith's binding variant B, with the front wrapper also naming the published Dewitt & Davenport. The second US edition was published by Harper & Brothers a single day later, on 9 August 1854. Harper was unwilling to pay for advance sheets, and so used the T. L. McElrath edition to quickly typeset their edition and publish it the following day. The Harper edition was published at half the price, and was designed to outcompete the former edition. Smith notes a contemporary newspaper reporting that this "entirely stopped the sale of McElrath's book, robbed him of the profits of his enterprise, and literally crushed the young rival out of existence" (cited in Smith, p. 328). 2 copies, octavo. Original brown wrappers printed in black. Housed together in custom green quarter morocco box. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. Wrappers a little worn, the first edition with some reinforcement at extremities, contents a little spotted, second edition with some peripheral staining and minor fire damage to bottom fore corner. Good copies. Smith, American Editions, pp. 323-8.

Charles Dickens' 'Hard Times' is a critical examination of Victorian industrial society and its impact on human life, depicting harsh realities of the era.