A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities Summary

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a historical novel set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie. The novel explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the tumultuous social upheaval of the era.

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A Tale of Two Cities Excerpt

Short Summary: Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this novel intertwines the lives of Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable English lawyer, both in love with Lucie Manette. Themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the struggle for justice are explored as their destinies converge.

"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 epoch of belief, it was the epoch 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.

In this iconic opening passage, Dickens encapsulates the contradictions of the era, setting the stage for a narrative that delves into the complexities of human nature amidst societal upheaval. The novel follows the intertwined lives of its central characters as they navigate the turbulent times leading up to and during the French Revolution, exploring themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the quest for justice."