Final answer:
The quote is from the novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens and describes the polluted and grim atmosphere of the industrial city of Coketown in England.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote is from the novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens. It is describing the setting of the industrial city of Coketown in England. Dickens uses vivid and detailed descriptions, characteristic of his writing style, to paint a picture of the polluted and grim atmosphere created by human industry. This quote is about the physical environment of Coketown and the negative effects of industrialization on nature.