Dickens' indictment of industrial England (4,5)

I believe the answer is:

hard times

(Other definitions for hard times that I've seen before include "old book" , "Possibly description of our crossword" , "Book by Dickens" , "Ma dithers about title of Dickens novel in tough period" , "Stealers of things" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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