Re: Hard Times
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:19:30 -0100
My dear Mr Manan,
Alas, little changed as a result of "Hard Times." It was not until 1871
that the Trade Union act was passed. This recognised the legality of trade
unions, and strove, I suppose, to harmonise relations between masters and
men by taking trade union activity out of the world of plots and conspiracy.
But too many masters remained indifferent to the sufferings of workers when
trade was bad, too many trades union organisers continued to poison the
minds of workers with hatred, too few philanthropists followed the practical
example of Mr Owen. As for Mr Marx, I never read his works. Nevertheless,
I was familiar with the doctrines of the socialists, but found even Mr
Owen's arguments fallacious, however good his heart.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
____________________________________________________________________________
____________
>Dear Mr. Dickens,
> After readying your novel, Hard Times, I started to wonder. Following
the publication of Hard Times did anything change in England or the world?
Were any new laws or "doctrines" passed as a response to your novel? I also
noticed that when you wrote Hard Times, Marx was also developing his idea of
socialism across Europe. Are their any parallels between that event?
>
>
>
>
>Thank You for your magnificent novels,
>Manan
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author