"Hard Cash" is a Victorian novel that delves into the dark and corrupt world of private lunatic asylums in England. The story revolves around the wrongful incarceration of Edward Hardie, a young man who is falsely declared insane after his father's bank fails. The novel exposes the nefarious practices of the asylum industry, where individuals are imprisoned without proper legal process for profit or convenience. Through a series of dramatic events and the tireless efforts of his love interest, Edward's plight highlights the abuses of power within the mental health system and the urgent need for reform in the treatment of the mentally ill during the 19th century.

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