Review: Hard times are universal
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 28, 2014
This book grabs you immediately, with its simple but straightforward tale about an independent weaver named Henry and his family.  Henry makes his money as a weaver who works from home in his dimly lit little house, while his family gets on with life around him.  Their routine is upset by a visit from a man who wants to hire on several of Henry's children and his wife to work in a Manchester factory, spinning thread.  Henry's suspicious and disapproving from the word 'go' -- he's heard all about the poor conditions the factory workers have to suffer through and doesn't want to subject his family to such harsh conditions.  But the recruiter wins his family over with the promise of better food (all the family has to eat are potatoes) and greater pay than Henry can earn as an independent weaver.  The recruiter has sown the seed of dissent, though, and Henry's family are excited about the idea of them all moving to Manchester for a better life.  When Henry goes to see the local vicar to ask for his help in convincing his family that moving isn't the way to go, Henry can't help but notice how well-off the clergyman is.Although this story is set in the 1800s, it is every bit as relevant today as it ever was.  No doubt, there were countless families back then who had to wrestle with the same conundrum as Henry does here.  Although the story is set in the past, this is a no-holds-barred indictment, particularly in regards to corporatists and religion. "He's in his great big house with servants and tells me I'm poor because I don't go to church enough," Henry grouses to his wife, at one point, and doesn't that sound so very familiar to us now?I have to commend Mr. Pearce.  This is a very timely story, told very ably, although it's troubling to know so many people are stuck in much the same situation as Henry and his family in the book.