A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities is a novel crafted by British author Charles Dickens, initially published in serialized form by the magazine All the Year Round. It released 31 weekly installments from April 30 to November 26, 1859.

Unlike Dickens’ other works, which often focus on child and adolescent characters to portray British society, this novel delves into historical themes, offering a glimpse into life during the 18th century.

Set simultaneously in London, England, and Paris, France, during the onset of the French Revolution, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of significant historical events.

Recommended for: Readers interested in classic English literature, historical fiction, and sweeping narratives set against the backdrop of momentous historical events. A Tale of Two Cities would appeal to high school and college students as well as general readers seeking an engaging exploration of the French Revolution.

You will:

Immerse yourself in Dickens’ powerful storytelling and vivid depiction of the social and political turmoil of 18th century London and Paris.
Analyze the complex and interconnected characters, including the selfless Lucie Manette, the noble but flawed Charles Darnay, and the enigmatic Sydney Carton, and how they represent different facets of the human experience.
Gain insights into the class divisions, oppression, and revolutionary fervor that defined the era, and how these themes resonate with contemporary social and political issues.
Appreciate Dickens’ masterful use of symbolism, such as the storming of the Bastille and the contrasting imagery of light and darkness, to convey the novel’s central themes.
Explore the novel’s exploration of sacrifice, redemption, and the human capacity for both good and evil in the face of adversity.
Develop critical thinking skills by examining the moral ambiguities and philosophical questions raised throughout the narrative.
Enhance your understanding of 19th century English literature and the enduring influence of Dickens’ work on the development of the novel form.
Engage with the timeless themes of love, duty, and the struggle for justice that permeate this classic tale.

Plot

Book the First: Recalled to Life

The first part takes place in France. Lucie Manette believed that her father was dead. But thanks to the intermediation of Mr. Jarvis Lorry, she manages to reunite with him after 18 years. In the Bastille Prison, Dr. Manette was unjustly imprisoned. Then, Lucie and her father return to England.

Book the Second: The Golden Thread

Some years later, Lucie and Dr. Manette are witnesses of a trial in an English court of a French noble named Charles Darnay. The jury declared him innocent of the charge of espionage. In that trial, Charles’s defense attorney is Mr. Sidney Carton. Carton has been in love with Lucie for a long time.

Charles meets Lucie and falls in love with her. And after a while, they get engaged. When the wedding date approaches, lawyer Carton visits Lucie and makes a promise. He promises that, if necessary, he would give his life for her or someone she loves. After saying these words, Carton leaves but makes Lucie promise to remember him as the right man he once was.

On the wedding morning, Charles Darnay confesses to his father-in-law, that his real name is Evrémonde. He is the last descendant of this aristocratic and murderous family. And for that reason, he refuses to belong to them.

Finally, Lucie marries Darnay, and they have a daughter. London and Paris have a link in the story when Darnay travels to France. The reason for the trip is to help a person condemned to death because of him, and he wants to prevent this from happening.

Book the Third: The Track of a Storm

Shortly after being in Paris, they declare Charles an emigrated aristocrat and send him to prison.

Moreover, the revolutionaries condemn Charles to death. Thus, the lawyer Sydney Carton decides to fulfill the promise made to Lucie. As a result, the story will have a different ending.

Licensing

Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities. Publishers: Chapman & Hall Ld (London), Charles Scribner’s Sons (New York), 1898. Originally published in 1859. This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. Text from Wikisource: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_(1898)
This digital edition is provided by Ebooks-net in 2024 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. The full text of the license is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.