“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities is 16th novel of Charles Dickens published in 1859. It’s set (as title tells) in two cities: London and Paris and it tells the strory through two families, English one and French once. It’s a tale of chaos, espionage and adventure before and during the French Revolution.
I love how many characters this book has compared to its length. There are gravediggers, puppet lawyer, kind hearted banker and great main characters: mysterious Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton and woman Lucie Manette whom both of the main characters love. I also like the language and how characters use French idioms: “What the devil you do in that galley there?
“You have been the last dream of my soul.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
“Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love both cities London and Paris and books around French revolution have always been my favorite ones. Also, I tried not to mention it but somehow I thought of Les Misérables when re-reading this.
I’d give this book 4/5 stars.
How-To Read A Tale of Two Cities
1. You can find it for free in most languages in Public Domain or Project Gutenberg. You can also listen audio version of the novel. Moreover, you can have a look at original manuscript of the novel, not that it is readable.. As for hard copy, find one with pictures, it makes reading more entertaining.
2. It’s descriptive, dramatic theatrical, ironic. If you have thing for French Revolution, go for it. It takes quite much concentration to focus on this book.
3. It has nice length, about 500 pages. It’s one of the shorter books of Dickens.
4. If you are not native English speaker, and planning to read it in English, you might want to read this in electronic form and with device that has dictionary so you can look up the words.
5. Ladies, this book might have one of your favorite male characters ever. Sydney Carton.
6. If you don’t like Dickens or find his novels hard to approach, try reading at least 100 pages of Tale of Two Cities before you quit. Same goes if you are required to read this book in school. Don’t give up. People say it’s single book they have enjoyed reading in high school.
Buy the book: A Tale of Two Cities (Vintage Editions) on Amazon
Sydney Carton is one of my favorite characters ever! One of my favorite books :)
Oh, I LOVE this book and cried buckets when I first read it and got to the end. Madam Defarge also gave me nightmares…
Oh, ending in this was just horrible, I wasn’t expecting it to happen
What a great book and your review…Loved it myself. I always love to read what you write. BRAVO!
Thank you :)
I actually started reading A Tale Of Two Cities at the beginning of this month, but I wasn’t in the mood for a ‘heavy’ read and put it on hold… Your review made me want to pick it up again and continue; it’s not an easy read but with enough concentration it should be enjoyable.
I think it’s somewhat hard to start this book but it’s very rewarding one towards the end. Hope you enjoy it :)
Good to know! I will definitely give it another go before the end of the month.
I don’t know why, but I’ve always found Dickens sort of intimidating and thus haven’t really read anything of his. I might have to try this, though.
A wonderful review. Great quotes chosen.
It’s my favourite Dickens’ novel and quite different to his other works, although I love all of them.
One of my favourite Dickens works. How Mme Defarge gets her come-uppance is a delight to read!
Haa,this…I found this book quite hard to understand and I agree it takes an amount of focus to read it.(I’m not a native English speaker.haha)
:) True, I had difficulties with it as well. I tend to read books in English on my ereader because it has dictionary. The atmosphere is different when you read book in its original language :) Thank you for commenting!
Haa,this…I found this book quite hard to understand and I agree it takes an amount of focus to read it.(I’m not a native English speaker.haha)
:) True, I had difficulties with it as well. I tend to read books in English on my ereader because it has dictionary. The atmosphere is different when you read book in its original language :) Thank you for commenting!
Sydney Carton! OMG!
:D :D :D
Sydney Carton! OMG!
:D :D :D
One of my favourite Dickens works. How Mme Defarge gets her come-uppance is a delight to read!
It’s my favourite Dickens’ novel and quite different to his other works, although I love all of them.
What a great book and your review…Loved it myself. I always love to read what you write. BRAVO!
Thank you :)
I actually started reading A Tale Of Two Cities at the beginning of this month, but I wasn’t in the mood for a ‘heavy’ read and put it on hold… Your review made me want to pick it up again and continue; it’s not an easy read but with enough concentration it should be enjoyable.
I think it’s somewhat hard to start this book but it’s very rewarding one towards the end. Hope you enjoy it :)
Good to know! I will definitely give it another go before the end of the month.
I don’t know why, but I’ve always found Dickens sort of intimidating and thus haven’t really read anything of his. I might have to try this, though.
Sydney Carton is one of my favorite characters ever! One of my favorite books :)
Oh, I LOVE this book and cried buckets when I first read it and got to the end. Madam Defarge also gave me nightmares…
Oh, ending in this was just horrible, I wasn’t expecting it to happen
A wonderful review. Great quotes chosen.