Shortest Dickens book I've ever read (listened to actually), but VERY good. I love the come-uppance of Josiah Bounderby in the end! I also like Dickens' way of pointing out that the perfect ending would have been for Louisa to have gotten married and had a bunch of kids, but that is NOT what ended up happening. But then he did give her a happy ending, after all, just a different one. I especially love the way Dickens names his characters. You never have to wonder whether somebody is going to be a "good guy" or a "bad guy" or what his/her personality traits are, just check out the names - Gradgrind, Choakumchild (hahha!!!), Sparsit, Blackpool, Harthouse, Sleary - they are AWESOME!