A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

First published in 1859, during Dickens' mature period of writing, A Tale of Two Cities remains one of the greatest novels on the French Revolution. The two cities are Paris and London and the scene shifts from one to the other in a story of brutality, repression, hatred and revenge on the one hand and idealism, love and self-sacrifice on the other. The Marquis de St Evremonde, along with his brother, cruelly molests a peasant girl and mortally wounds her brother. Dr Manette is called to treat them, but is then confined in the Bastille for eighteen years to suppress his evidence. The fall of the dreaded prison secures his release, but he is ill and driven to madness. He is brought to England to convalesce and slowly regains his sanity. Darnay, a nephew of the Marquis who has renounced his family for their cruel practices, is now in England and falls in love with and marries Lucie, the doctor's daughter.He makes a trip to Paris to rescue an old family retainer, but is recognized, arrested and sentenced to death.

Prolific nineteenth century author, Charles Dickens is famous for his remarkable characters and mastery of prose in the telling of their lives. Loved for his invaluable contribution to classic English literature, his good, bad and comic characters and realistic portrayal of contemporary life in Victorian England continue to fascinate readers worldwide.