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A Tale of Two Cities
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This is an historical romance which takes place in Paris and London during the French Revolution. It is also a powerful study of crowd psychology and the dark emotions aroused by the Revolution.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26,1859
This edition
- Format
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432 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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January 1, 1993 by Everyman's Library
- ISBN
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9781857151435
- ASIN
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1857151437
- Language
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English
Characters More characters
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Sydney Carton
An insolent, indifferent, and alcoholic attorney who works with Stryver. Carton has no real prospects in life and doesnt seem to be in pursuit of any. He does, however, love Lucie, and his feelings for her eventually transform him into a man of profound m...
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Charles Darnay
A French aristocrat by birth, Darnay chooses to live in England because he cannot bear to be associated with the cruel injustices of the French social system. Darnay displays great virtue in his rejection of the snobbish and cruel values of his uncle, the...
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Lucie Manette
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Madame Therese Defarge
A vengeful female revolutionary, arguably the novels antagonistmore...
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Dr. Alexandre Manette
Lucies father, kept a prisoner in the Bastille for eighteen years.more...
About the author
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Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Ages ago, when I knew almost nothing about Charles Dickens, this was the book I always associated with him. I knew almost nothing about it, except it was about the French Revolution. Later I heard a few things, like the quote, "It is a far, far better thing that I do ..." and about Madame DeFarge and her knitting at the foot of the guillotine. So, I had a nodding acquaintance with it. But then I read Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol, and those began to be the books I thought of for Dickens. David Copperfield, The Old Curiosity Shop.
But now I've finally read this, the book that was at the time his most successful, the book that is still considered by many to be his masterpiece. And you know what? It deserves the hype. Here are the usual Dickens Players: noble young men, venerable fathers, innocent angel women, weird servants with weird names and weirder habits. But the story. Oh, the story! Heartbreaking. Tender. Complex and yet deeply satisfying.
And I was not prepared for the ending. Not. One. Bit.
But now I've finally read this, the book that was at the time his most successful, the book that is still considered by many to be his masterpiece. And you know what? It deserves the hype. Here are the usual Dickens Players: noble young men, venerable fathers, innocent angel women, weird servants with weird names and weirder habits. But the story. Oh, the story! Heartbreaking. Tender. Complex and yet deeply satisfying.
And I was not prepared for the ending. Not. One. Bit.
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Despite caveats, I am awarding full recognition. There are such long stretches of gorgeous writing here. What an astonishing writer Dickens can be when he keeps away from cloying sentiment, his hobbyhorse.
I kept girding for the saccharine heroine (à la Little Dorrit). She never appeared but the novelist hews closest to his chief indulgence in Chapter 17: "One Night."
Here young Lucie, who has rescued her father from Louis XVI's Bastille, speaks with him — years after their safe return to England — about her upcoming marriage to Charles Darnay, a Frenchman also involved in the father's rescue.
Lucie in her immoderate selflessness is guilty about sidelining her father, who until now has received all her personal attentions after his great suffering. So here father and daughter expatiate at wearying length on their love for one another. This goes on for many pages until Lucy is convinced her father won't hold her marriage against her. In fact, he welcomes it.
Quite a slog when you consider how the preceding and succeeding chapters fly by. But it is a small inconvenience compared to what remains.
I kept girding for the saccharine heroine (à la Little Dorrit). She never appeared but the novelist hews closest to his chief indulgence in Chapter 17: "One Night."
Here young Lucie, who has rescued her father from Louis XVI's Bastille, speaks with him — years after their safe return to England — about her upcoming marriage to Charles Darnay, a Frenchman also involved in the father's rescue.
Lucie in her immoderate selflessness is guilty about sidelining her father, who until now has received all her personal attentions after his great suffering. So here father and daughter expatiate at wearying length on their love for one another. This goes on for many pages until Lucy is convinced her father won't hold her marriage against her. In fact, he welcomes it.
Quite a slog when you consider how the preceding and succeeding chapters fly by. But it is a small inconvenience compared to what remains.
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3.5**** rounded up!!
”It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”
Oh Carton! This book was sad, tragic and bleak... which is expected from the French Revolution.
This book is set in London and in Paris with the build up to the French Revolution and during this terror of blood reign. Dickens explores the terror, depravity and madness of this period and there is so much about the Revolution that I did not know about. The notes at the back of this edition were super useful!
Immersed into this terror are the lives of Dicken’s characters: Doctor Manette, his daughter Lucie, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, Mr Lorry, etc. One of the characters who is explored greatly and had an impact on me was that of Doctor Manette- who at the start of the book is a wrongful prisoner of Bastille. With this character, Dicken’s was able to explore how corrupt the nobles were/those in power before the Revolution, and detail the impacts/PTSD prisoners would suffer as a result of this imprisonment.
He also details the change the Revolution bought, with thorough bloodshed of the guillotine to being beheaded on “suspect” laws- despite many victims being innocent. All of these events were told through the eyes of our MC’s.
My heart was aching by the end of this book. There were twists and turns, and some hope to be had in this novel.
Despite thoroughly enjoying my first Dicken’s novel (that i read myself), I wasn’t fully immersed into the book until around the 200 page mark. In addition, I found this a bit harder to work through (maybe as it is a “classic” and I haven’t read one in ages- takes a while for me to get into the language), so I am not too sure I understood all of it 100% of the time.
”It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”
Oh Carton! This book was sad, tragic and bleak... which is expected from the French Revolution.
This book is set in London and in Paris with the build up to the French Revolution and during this terror of blood reign. Dickens explores the terror, depravity and madness of this period and there is so much about the Revolution that I did not know about. The notes at the back of this edition were super useful!
Immersed into this terror are the lives of Dicken’s characters: Doctor Manette, his daughter Lucie, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, Mr Lorry, etc. One of the characters who is explored greatly and had an impact on me was that of Doctor Manette- who at the start of the book is a wrongful prisoner of Bastille. With this character, Dicken’s was able to explore how corrupt the nobles were/those in power before the Revolution, and detail the impacts/PTSD prisoners would suffer as a result of this imprisonment.
He also details the change the Revolution bought, with thorough bloodshed of the guillotine to being beheaded on “suspect” laws- despite many victims being innocent. All of these events were told through the eyes of our MC’s.
My heart was aching by the end of this book. There were twists and turns, and some hope to be had in this novel.
Despite thoroughly enjoying my first Dicken’s novel (that i read myself), I wasn’t fully immersed into the book until around the 200 page mark. In addition, I found this a bit harder to work through (maybe as it is a “classic” and I haven’t read one in ages- takes a while for me to get into the language), so I am not too sure I understood all of it 100% of the time.
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
Another classic down! The copy of this book that I read I have owned since middle school/high school – so it has been with me for about 25 years! I figured it was about time to get to it.
The book is divided into three parts and when I got to the end of part two (which is a little over 200 pages into the book), I was sure I was going to give the book 2 stars. Not that I was kidding myself that Dickens would be an easy read, but I had to force myself back into the book every day because I knew it would end up being a chore.
Then I hit part three.
It is all worth it for part three! Part three by itself is 5 stars all the way – so I averaged out my overall rating to 4 stars. If you are struggling with the beginning like I did – don’t give up! I hope that you find the ending as interesting and engaging as I did.
Also, thanks again to Shmoop for helping me along the way with chapter summaries. I didn’t have to read a summary of every chapter, but there were a few that had me scratching my head so it was very helpful having a place I could go for help.
Finally, while I started my review with one of the most famous beginning quotes in literature, I didn’t realize that the famous quote that ends this book was from Dickens. I will end my review with it – but I am not marking it with a spoiler, so if you want to avoid knowing what it is, don’t look down!
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“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Another classic down! The copy of this book that I read I have owned since middle school/high school – so it has been with me for about 25 years! I figured it was about time to get to it.
The book is divided into three parts and when I got to the end of part two (which is a little over 200 pages into the book), I was sure I was going to give the book 2 stars. Not that I was kidding myself that Dickens would be an easy read, but I had to force myself back into the book every day because I knew it would end up being a chore.
Then I hit part three.
It is all worth it for part three! Part three by itself is 5 stars all the way – so I averaged out my overall rating to 4 stars. If you are struggling with the beginning like I did – don’t give up! I hope that you find the ending as interesting and engaging as I did.
Also, thanks again to Shmoop for helping me along the way with chapter summaries. I didn’t have to read a summary of every chapter, but there were a few that had me scratching my head so it was very helpful having a place I could go for help.
Finally, while I started my review with one of the most famous beginning quotes in literature, I didn’t realize that the famous quote that ends this book was from Dickens. I will end my review with it – but I am not marking it with a spoiler, so if you want to avoid knowing what it is, don’t look down!
*******************
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
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A painful beast of a book. It took me five attempts to get past page one hundred, and when I finally did break that barrier I pressed on until the very end so that I didn't have to suffer ever again.
Dickens is a problem for me. I admit it freely.
There was a time, many years ago, when I was a fan. I read Great Expectations for the first time in grade four, and I was in love with the book and Dickens. And I imagine that some part of my social consciousness, which wasn't a gift from my parents, was planted with the seeds of Dickens.
Over the years, though, Dickens and I have grown apart.
I don't mean that I have "outgrown" him in any sort of condescending manner. It's not the sort of thing I expect anyone else to do, nor is it something that I blame fully on Dickens. No, we've grown apart as many couples do when one person changes through life and experience and the other remains constant.
I have become a radical over the years, and Dickens...well, he's still as bourgeois left as ever, and we're not compatible any more. He venerates the comforts of the middle class; he expounds the virtues of law and order and charity; he attacks the indignities of the abuses of power but only offers imaginary methods for overcoming them, mythologizing the bourgeoisie's ability to overthrow the things that ail us; he vilifies those who seek more radical solutions; and, whether he admits it or not, he still believes in the superiority of nobility and noble blood.
So when he starts to attack the revolutionaries in Paris and uses it to illustrate the "superiority" of civilized English behavior, when Dickens' moral soapbox weighs heavier than his plot, I begin to tune out of his lecture, and A Tale of Two Cities makes me increasingly angry from page to page.
I recognize Dickens' talent. I still love his prose. And I get why people love this book, and maybe even why you do, kind reader, but I can't stand it (and I am finding it increasingly difficult to like any of his work anymore).
I may burn this someday. But I have fully annotated the version I own and while I can burn the words of others (it's the radical in me), my lovely inner narcissist simply can't burn words of my own (unless it is for catharsis). So A Tale of Two Cities will likely survive on my shelf until I die, mocking me from its high perch in my office, whispering that a catharsis that may never come just may be necessary.
Dickens is a problem for me. I admit it freely.
There was a time, many years ago, when I was a fan. I read Great Expectations for the first time in grade four, and I was in love with the book and Dickens. And I imagine that some part of my social consciousness, which wasn't a gift from my parents, was planted with the seeds of Dickens.
Over the years, though, Dickens and I have grown apart.
I don't mean that I have "outgrown" him in any sort of condescending manner. It's not the sort of thing I expect anyone else to do, nor is it something that I blame fully on Dickens. No, we've grown apart as many couples do when one person changes through life and experience and the other remains constant.
I have become a radical over the years, and Dickens...well, he's still as bourgeois left as ever, and we're not compatible any more. He venerates the comforts of the middle class; he expounds the virtues of law and order and charity; he attacks the indignities of the abuses of power but only offers imaginary methods for overcoming them, mythologizing the bourgeoisie's ability to overthrow the things that ail us; he vilifies those who seek more radical solutions; and, whether he admits it or not, he still believes in the superiority of nobility and noble blood.
So when he starts to attack the revolutionaries in Paris and uses it to illustrate the "superiority" of civilized English behavior, when Dickens' moral soapbox weighs heavier than his plot, I begin to tune out of his lecture, and A Tale of Two Cities makes me increasingly angry from page to page.
I recognize Dickens' talent. I still love his prose. And I get why people love this book, and maybe even why you do, kind reader, but I can't stand it (and I am finding it increasingly difficult to like any of his work anymore).
I may burn this someday. But I have fully annotated the version I own and while I can burn the words of others (it's the radical in me), my lovely inner narcissist simply can't burn words of my own (unless it is for catharsis). So A Tale of Two Cities will likely survive on my shelf until I die, mocking me from its high perch in my office, whispering that a catharsis that may never come just may be necessary.
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n A KNIT OF TWO TALESn
Reading Dickens’s approach to historical fiction, at first I could not help but remember Romola, which I read recently. And even if Romola seemed to have more of a Victorian than a Florentine Renaissance tone, the story and the context were very nicely woven together.
While with A Tale I felt I as reading two separate stories. One was a the result of conscientious research, and Dickens in his Preface acknowledges Carlyle’s wonderful book, and the other was a more melodramatic tale with Gothic overtones. The two meanings of the word historia separated: history and story.
May be it was because Dickens was dealing with a convulsive period that was still too close to him and his contemporaries. Its threats must have resonated with a greater echo after the 1848 revolutions that again swept through France as well as other European countries. When he wrote his novel only a decade had passed since that latest wave of violence and political turmoil. These more recent revolutions must have had the effect of a magnifying glass when Dickens read and reread Carlyle’s study, study which had, however, been written before, in 1837. One can certainly feel Dickens alarm at the dangers that loom over humanity. His horror came first, and then he tried to horrify his readers.
And yet, as my reading proceeded, I began to feel how these two axis or needles were pulling out something together. And I think it is Dickens excellent writing, with his uses of repetitions, or anaphora; his complex set of symbols—and I am beginning to become familiar with the Dickens iconography; his idiosyncratic mixture of humour and drama; his use of alliteration and onomatopoeia; his extraordinary development of images—and I think this novel has some of the best I have read by him; and his ability to sustain a positive core within a great deal of drab, that succeeds in making those two needles knit something coherent and consistent.
And indeed my favourite image was the Knitting, which Dickens develops throughout the novel, with all its mythological weight--that binds the threads of fate and volition, of patience and disquiet, of love and hatred--, which became for me also the knitting of the writer. The periodic and steady rhythm of Knit and Purl produced with threads of words, meshing in the melodrama and the emotions, the varying colours with their lights and shadows, increasing or decreasing the episodes with literary tricks such as adding a new thread or character or knitting two stiches in one go by solving a mystery. And this he achieved by handling with shrewd dexterity his two needles of ‘story’ and ‘history’, his two tales.
So, as I came to the end I had to admit that , yes, the Tale of Two Tales has woven for me a magnificent novel. There has been somewhat of a 'Resurrection' in my reading too.
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كيف ساختزل جمال هذه الرواية في كلمات قليلة و مراجعة مختصرة.(لانني اسمع نقد مراجعتك طويلة
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