Set in the industrial town of Hillsborough, Charles Reade's 1870 novel explores the bitter conflict between trade unions and skilled workers in Victorian England. Henry Little, a talented young cutler, invents a labor-saving tool that provokes violent hostility from union men who fear losing their livelihoods. As he endures intimidation, sabotage, and betrayal, Henry's romance with the wealthy Grace Carden deepens despite social barriers and ruthless enemies. Interwoven with a gripping subplot of crime and blackmail, the story examines justice, loyalty, and human nature, urging readers to "put themselves in his place"—to understand others' circumstances before passing judgment on them.
