Hard Cash

** "Hard Cash" by Charles Reade, is a story set in the late 1800s, which follows the Dodd family as they grapple with social standards, personal goals, and family ties amid rapid change. Mrs. Dodd guides her children, Edward and Julia, with strong morals in a world obsessed with wealth and position. Edward struggles with feeling less successful than others, while Julia craves equal opportunities. The story kicks off by introducing the main characters and their family, showing their ambitions and the problems they'll face to achieve their goals by setting up themes around social and personal expectations. **