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  • A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

  • By: Charles Dickens
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (7,462 ratings)

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A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's summary

This novel provides a highly charged examination of human suffering and human sacrifice, private experience and public history, during the French Revolution.

A Tale of Two Cities is one of Charles Dickens's most exciting novels. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it tells the story of a family threatened by the terrible events of the past. Doctor Manette was wrongly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years without trial by the aristocratic authorities. Finally released, he is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, who despite her French ancestry has been brought up in London. Lucie falls in love with Charles Darnay, another expatriate, who has abandoned wealth and a title in France because of his political convictions. When revolution breaks out in Paris, Darnay returns to the city to help an old family servant, but there he is arrested because of the crimes committed by his relations. His wife, Lucie, their young daughter, and her aged father follow him across the channel, thus putting all their lives in danger.

Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

Charles Dickens's classic of the French Revolution is expertly dramatized by Simon Vance. It's also a grand romance. Charles Darnay, the French émigré who relinquishes his title in disgust at the poverty wrought upon the peasants by the titled class, and Sydney Carton, the world-weary drunken London barrister, both love Lucie, the daughter of the unjustly imprisoned Dr. Alexandre Manette. Vance will have listeners weeping as Carton greets Madame Guillotine with some of the most famous lines in literature. Carton's depression and ultimate redemption are crystal clear; Madame Defarge, with her clicking knitting needles, takes on appropriate menace; and Jarvis Lorry, the reliable "man of business," loves Lucie as if she were his daughter." (AudioFile magazine)

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What listeners say about A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    4,902
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  • 2 Stars
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I am addicted

Would you listen to A Tale of Two Cities again? Why?

Very well written. Love the narrator's voice. It took me 300 years back so softly and without knowing I am deep drowned in the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Tale of Two Cities?

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Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

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Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

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Any additional comments?

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredibly inspiring tale & performance

Incredibly inspiring tale & performance! Worth every minute - only wish it were longer! Dickens is a master storyteller, and the very talented cast brought his masterpiece to life!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Had never read this book, loved it!
So touching and very well written, of course, it's Dickens!

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Wow!!

Any additional comments?

All I can say is wow, that was amazing! while Dickens is not the easiest read, it is worth it. Recommend book about the French revolution, the insanity before and after.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great job

The narrator did a wonderful job with this classic story. The nuances of the tale and the different characters were portrayed loyally. I enjoyed this sometimes dark tale about love and sacrifice.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Classic!

Now I know why this is considered a classic. Such a great love story set in a time when feelings were suggested, not openly professed. Sacrifices were made by many in order to honor friendships.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Never Ages

I love it his book and its warnings to mankind. I never tire of re listening to it. Marvelous narrator.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

This is a complicated book and review

I have so many mixed emotions about this book. It took me three times of reading to finish it (the third time resulted in my simultaneously listening and reading). I give it four stars for the last 20% and two stars for the rest because ALL THE WORDS, ChuckDick. All. The. Words.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

outstanding

another outstanding story by a great author. read in a way that was easy to listen to. engaging.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Worth it.

this book is quite long but it is definitely worth completing. Hang on for the first part the last part is much better

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