• “Yellow-back”/Railway Novels → Creativity and Curiosity in Hard Times

In Altick’s article, he mentions how books were not as accessible as they are today. However, there were books that were considered “Yellow-back”/Railway novels so those who couldn’t afford to buy a novel could still read. Altick states that it wasn’t just the poor people that would read them but “it was said, in fact, that people went to railway stations for the books they were ashamed to seek at respectable shops” ( 301). This demonstrates that even those who could afford books may have also gone out to read these types of novels because of the stigma there might be about them at shops. Altick brings this point about because it demonstrates the positive part about having books accessible to others. Altick writes, “No longer was it possible for people to avoid reading matter” (301). This goes to show that the opportunity to read was starting to become more accessible and if people wanted to read they had the opportunity to do so. This can be tied back to the main theme of creativity and curiosity in Hard Times by Dickens because when Mr.Gradgrind catches Louisa and Tom looking at the circus, he is furious and wants them to have nothing to do with it. He even goes on to say, “Thomas, though I have the fact before me, I find it difficult to believe that you, with your education and resources, should have brought your sister to a scene like this” (Book I, Chapter III). Mr. Gradgrind exemplifies how others would have reacted if they see someone of a higher class reading a “Yellow-back” novel. However, Louisa and Tom exemplify how if someone wants to enact on their creative side, they are going to find a way to do so, just like those who found a way read even if it was through “Yellow-back” novels. In both instances, it shows how if someone is wanting to do something whether it is reading or going “against” their education and being creativity and curious, they will find a way to do so.