A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Publisher: Top Five Books (2014)

300 pages, eBook (Purchased Myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

After a long and undeserved imprisonment in France, Doctor Manette is released to the care of his daughter, Lucie, who had previously thought him dead, and as a result of their removal to England they meet Jarvis Lorry, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, three men that will feature largely in the story of their lives, and in the events that draw them back to France, as well as those that occur during the Revolution going on there at the time.

My Thoughts:

This story largely centers around Lucie, and all the adoring men in her life. She is such an angelic, perfect creature that there doesn’t seem to be much to her, other than her radiance and beauty, but I think the understanding, caring way she handled Sydney Carton’s confession gave her a bit more depth and I almost thought her deserving of his deep regard. For me, Sydney Carton is by far and away the most interesting character in this story. He is a brooding man, resigned to his own unhappiness, in love with a woman he can never have, and willing to give her everything (even his life) if she should ever have need of it. Plus, the scene at the end with the young seamstress is so beautiful! I’m glad all his efforts were recognized for what they were worth in the end.

Edition Notes:

This Top Five Classics Edition is organized for optimum maneuverability, is prettily arranged, very readable, and includes illustrations by Hablot K. Browne and Frederick Barnard (combining the illustrations from their various editions). A great reading copy for a great price!

Quotes:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epic of belief, it was the epic of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“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

“pray control your agitation—a matter of business.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“Courage! Business!” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—knitting, and saw nothing.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—if it were less objectionable, it would be less respectable.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—the triumphant perfection of inconvenience.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—the baffled blue-flies were dispersing in search of other carrion.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“It’s a gloomy thing, however, to talk about one’s own past, with the day breaking.” -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

“—see the great crowd of people with its rush and roar, bearing down upon them—“-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“The earth and the fulness thereof are mine, saith Monseigneur.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance upon Monseigneur.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—all things ran their course.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—you have been the last dream of my soul.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“—they are not easily purified when once stained red.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Movie Adaptations:

A Tale of Two Cities (TV Mini-Series 1989)

James Wilby, Xavier Deluc, Serena Gordon

TV Rating: NR

A Tale of Two Cities (TV Movie 1980)

Chris Sarandon, Peter Cushing, Alice Krige

TV Rating: NR