A Tale of Two Cities [Recorded Books]

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Frank Muller

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." So begins this classic, one of the most beloved novels of all time. Charles Dickens brings the French Revolution to life through such vivid characters as Charles Darnay, the Old Doctor, Sydney Carton and Lucy Manette. The action peaks with the storming of the Bastille, the dreaded symbol of government authority. And the blade of La Guillotine falls again...

(P)1986 by Recorded Books, Inc.

Brilliant

The reader's performance is a joy to listen to. His voice changes according to each character and remains true to the character throughout the reading. John is the best reader may he RIP!

Wonderfully narrated

Throw me in with the lot that truly appreciated Frank Muller's narration. Audiobooks are a great convenience. In this case I belive that Muller's narration is superior to actually reading the book on paper.

I had

Another wonderful book by Charles Dickens. A Tale Of Two Cities shows a more bleak side of the French Revolution where fanaticism and nationalism merge to illustrate how many things can be taken to the extreme and to the detrement of the original purpose. The characters are a somewhat sad lot, each with their cross to bear, and yet at the right time, they show their strengths in ways you would not expect.

I especially like Dickens' ability to use similitudes to convey a sense of "being there." His characterization of the "resurrecter" going "fishing" was absolutely brilliant. I often found myself laughing out loud as he describes the characteristics of the various members of the story as well as the places, and even a cobblestone road. Dickens has such a colorful way of describing a setting that you almost feel as though you are there with him noticing the small things that illustrate the fiber of the subject at hand. I found myself wanting to hear just a little bit more at the end of the story, but then again - he's the master.
Be sure you download this book in the highest quality since the audio may sound muddy and you may lose some of the narrator's crispness which could distract from this wonderful book. You may also feel just a little bit lost near the beginning but things will come together in the right amount of time.

Not for those with short attention spans

Any additional comments?

Frank Muller did an outstanding job on this book. I have read some reviews saying there were too many details and they got lost in the story and distracted. This is the unabridged version of Dicken's Classic, so there are lots and lots of details. If thats not your thing i suggest getting the abridged version so you can still enjoy the story but still concentrate on driving or working or whatever you do while listening to audio books. But if you have the time to just sit and listen and soak in all the little details, then this book is for you. Its like time travel.

Never grows old

I've read it at least four tines and have listened to it three. Favourite Dickensian

Turn your bass down

beautifully written and edge-of-your-seat transfixing, it's a joy from beginning to end. The narrator, likewise, is superb, convincingly and consistently voicing a huge cast of characters with completely distinct voices. However, his vice is so low and gravely that if you're listening in the car you'll want to turn the bass all the way down and the treble up or you'll struggle to understand him over road now and find yourself turning the volume uncomfortably loud to compensate. Adjusting the bass solves this completely, though, and you'll love everything about the book and narration.

A classic more easily understood with this reading

What did you love best about A Tale of Two Cities?

I knew this was a book I should've read long ago but never got around to it. This performance made it extremely interesting and really brought the characters to life. I didn't really understand much of the French Revolution and how England was impacted by events in the nearby country. The character development was exceptional. This may be my favorite Dickens work now.

What does Frank Muller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Frank Muller's reading of this story mad it come to life. The inflections and accents helped me greatly in keeping the characters straight.

Slow to unfold but worth it

The recording is a bit quiet and the story is slow compared to modern works but very rewarding if you stay tuned in to the details. In the end I enjoyed the pace and the narrators skills.

The Best!

I have hundreds of titles in my audible library and many more from the local library. This book stands above all others. As long as human society exists this topic will have relevance, and should be remembered. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Loved it!

Loved this book and the narrator was fantastic! I decided to listen to some classic novels and this is one of the ones I chose and it was amazing! Never knew much about Charles Dickens but now I'm a huge fan.