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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
The two cities of the title are London and Paris at the time of the late eighteenth century. A time of bloody revolution in France focused on Madame Guillotine in Paris, dyeing the streets red with blood. The tale starts sometime before the revolution when a clerk of Tellson's Bank takes the Dover mail to meet with Lucie Manette and to accompany her to France where her father Dr Manette had been imprisoned in the notorious Bastille for 18 years. They find Dr Manette and the house of his former servant and nascent revolutionary, Monsieur Defarge.
Five years later, in 1780, a young Frenchman, named Charles Darnay, is accused of being a traitor and a spy at the Old Bailey. Lucie and her father had met him while travelling from Calais to Dover. Lucie stresses the good qualities of the accused while giving her testimony. The evidence against him is overwhelming as the prosecution produces a number of witnesses who swear that he is a spy. However, it is Sydney Carton, an advocate present in the courtroom, who points out the resemblance between the prisoner and himself to the defense lawyer Mr. Stryver. The jury thus realizes that it could be a case of mistaken identity, and Darnay is acquitted.
The theme of the book is one of resurrection and both Dr Manette and then Charles Defarge are in a sense "recalled to life".
Darnay is the nephew of a ruthless French aristocrat, who needs four strong men to prepare his chocolate in the morning such are the extravagances of the Monseigneur class in France. The carriage of the Monseigneur kill a child in the streets and the child's father murder's the monseigneur in retaliation.
The third part of the book is set in the times of the Terror, when no-one is really safe from the Parisian mob. Darnay goes to Paris to save his French steward, Gabelle and is imprisoned and sentenced to death. Madame Defarge and the revolutionaries are set on eliminating anyone with connections to the aristocracy.
The mood of the novel in keeping with its setting is rather grim. Dickens novel lacks his usual humour. Only the gravedigger Jerry Cruncher and his son provide a little comic relief.
Dickens is very wordy, not surprisingly as he was paid by the word, but he does write a good story.
Five years later, in 1780, a young Frenchman, named Charles Darnay, is accused of being a traitor and a spy at the Old Bailey. Lucie and her father had met him while travelling from Calais to Dover. Lucie stresses the good qualities of the accused while giving her testimony. The evidence against him is overwhelming as the prosecution produces a number of witnesses who swear that he is a spy. However, it is Sydney Carton, an advocate present in the courtroom, who points out the resemblance between the prisoner and himself to the defense lawyer Mr. Stryver. The jury thus realizes that it could be a case of mistaken identity, and Darnay is acquitted.
The theme of the book is one of resurrection and both Dr Manette and then Charles Defarge are in a sense "recalled to life".
Darnay is the nephew of a ruthless French aristocrat, who needs four strong men to prepare his chocolate in the morning such are the extravagances of the Monseigneur class in France. The carriage of the Monseigneur kill a child in the streets and the child's father murder's the monseigneur in retaliation.
The third part of the book is set in the times of the Terror, when no-one is really safe from the Parisian mob. Darnay goes to Paris to save his French steward, Gabelle and is imprisoned and sentenced to death. Madame Defarge and the revolutionaries are set on eliminating anyone with connections to the aristocracy.
The mood of the novel in keeping with its setting is rather grim. Dickens novel lacks his usual humour. Only the gravedigger Jerry Cruncher and his son provide a little comic relief.
Dickens is very wordy, not surprisingly as he was paid by the word, but he does write a good story.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of my favorites. I love historical fiction and the characters in this book are so complex.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i hope that i’m brave and of resolute character when it truly matters
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One of my favorites by Dickens.
Really wanted to read it at some point and did not disappoint
Really wanted to read it at some point and did not disappoint
You can tell if a writer is good or bad just by reading a few pages. But with Dickens, you don’t even need that much—just a few paragraphs are enough to see his brilliance. The first paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities is amazing, seriously! And in the first chapter, the way he describes the year 1775 is so vivid yet so simple.
My favorite chapter is Chapter 14 of Book Three. The way Dickens wrote about a female character—especially considering it was the Victorian era—is just incredible. It’s so well done and deserves a lot of appreciation.
It does not happen often where you annotate the first line of the book as well as last one.
As Francis Bacon once said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Dickens' work isn’t just to be chewed and digested—it’s meant to be devoured.
My favorite chapter is Chapter 14 of Book Three. The way Dickens wrote about a female character—especially considering it was the Victorian era—is just incredible. It’s so well done and deserves a lot of appreciation.
It does not happen often where you annotate the first line of the book as well as last one.
As Francis Bacon once said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Dickens' work isn’t just to be chewed and digested—it’s meant to be devoured.