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A review by dyno8426
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
5.0
"Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death; -- the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine!"
After quite some time have I found another book to shelf among my 'favourites', the experience of reading which I can cherish and gladly look forward to reading all over again. Dickens is well known for his penmanship of English language, while establishing literary class through his memorable stories. I would place this one as his Arthur's Sword, pulling out which has made me bow to him with awe and reverence. With enough of the author's praise as my token of respect, and coming to the story, it is indeed a tale of two cities, London and Paris, through one of the most impactful times in the human history, the French Revolution. Through a family and group of friends, trapped in the turmoil of the revolution, which sweeps over their normal lives in England and carries them along to dreadful realities of France. Like the pain and struggle which is endured during inception of anything of significance, like humanity itself, Dickens shows us similar costs which people have to pay to born out ideals. How a revolution promising better times, takes its toll in the form of equally terrible times. How some seeds of change can give birth to uncontrollable situations, which turn out to be no different than the reason which inspired the change to begin with, leaves you with a feeling of futility against the overpowering darkness of the collective human desperation. But individuals of good resolution and determined character against the ensuing struggle provides you with a raft to stay afloat until it all ends, passing like everything that shall pass away. With a gripping story, unforgettable characters and beautiful lyricism, the author suceeds in conveying all of this. I couldn't help but even praise the chapter titles that provide you with the premonition into the imageries constituted within. Dickens also has this humorous tone which provides even more punch to the social critique. How the collective society sometimes raises hurdles to individual and how the latter struggle against the former to uphold what the society has lost is seen best through Dickens' array of characters.
It left me overwhelmed with many emotions, and also this query of why not having read it before. But again this book answers it with reminding that all the good things come at their own accord, sometimes as a long expected guest. Strongly recommend everyone to read this and let Dickens put his case himself.
After quite some time have I found another book to shelf among my 'favourites', the experience of reading which I can cherish and gladly look forward to reading all over again. Dickens is well known for his penmanship of English language, while establishing literary class through his memorable stories. I would place this one as his Arthur's Sword, pulling out which has made me bow to him with awe and reverence. With enough of the author's praise as my token of respect, and coming to the story, it is indeed a tale of two cities, London and Paris, through one of the most impactful times in the human history, the French Revolution. Through a family and group of friends, trapped in the turmoil of the revolution, which sweeps over their normal lives in England and carries them along to dreadful realities of France. Like the pain and struggle which is endured during inception of anything of significance, like humanity itself, Dickens shows us similar costs which people have to pay to born out ideals. How a revolution promising better times, takes its toll in the form of equally terrible times. How some seeds of change can give birth to uncontrollable situations, which turn out to be no different than the reason which inspired the change to begin with, leaves you with a feeling of futility against the overpowering darkness of the collective human desperation. But individuals of good resolution and determined character against the ensuing struggle provides you with a raft to stay afloat until it all ends, passing like everything that shall pass away. With a gripping story, unforgettable characters and beautiful lyricism, the author suceeds in conveying all of this. I couldn't help but even praise the chapter titles that provide you with the premonition into the imageries constituted within. Dickens also has this humorous tone which provides even more punch to the social critique. How the collective society sometimes raises hurdles to individual and how the latter struggle against the former to uphold what the society has lost is seen best through Dickens' array of characters.
It left me overwhelmed with many emotions, and also this query of why not having read it before. But again this book answers it with reminding that all the good things come at their own accord, sometimes as a long expected guest. Strongly recommend everyone to read this and let Dickens put his case himself.