A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins

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)

Beautiful story! Beautiful Narration!

If you could sum up A Tale of Two Cities in three words, what would they be?

Artfuk Social Reflection

What did you like best about this story?

Both the elegance of the writing and the skillfulness in portraying, describing, and satirically addressing social, historical,moral, common, uncommon events and subjects.

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

All are masterfully done

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

Both.there are many heart-wrenching moments, and also many lovely, laudable, and some funny moments.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the few works of literature that are deemed 'classics' that I have thoroughly enjoyed! And listening to the narration of Simon Vance helped bring this work alive.
READ IT! LISTEN TO IT!

Dickens is not for everyone...

But I loved this classic. My son-in-law, however, who followed upon my heels, had to put it down. Why the difference? I suspect because I am a visual thinker. The way Dickens draws scenes lends itself to images in the mind, and he provides such rich detail that the characters seem to materialize out of nowhere, right in their places. Wonderful story and descriptions of the times. I loved the historical aspects and felt I could easily draw into another time and place

must read

should be part of everyone's library. this is my favorite audio recording, first thing in the morning last thing at night. .

Grippng story, well-performed

I read an abridged version in high school over 50 years ago. I'd forgotten how dramtic the story is. Simon Vance brings it alive. Highly recommended.

Stunning performance for a good story~~

This is a wonderfully performed audiobook. The story is a little bloated in the 3rd act. But I still really enjoyed Dicken's writing and being transported into the time period of the French revolution

Great story and fantastic performance

This really is one the greatest stories of all time and Simon Vance makes it so much better!

Awesome narrator!

Because of the time period this was written there were times I had to strain to pay close attention, but overall I really enjoyed the story and the narrator did a very impressive job with all the different characters. I’ll look for him in other books!

To each his own

I know it's a classic but I guess it just wasn't my style. I think the biggest problem was that the verbage was just a little too outdated for me to relate to.

Another Really Good Classic

We purchased this because my daughter was reading it in school. Not only did I enjoy it, but she was really enthralled with this book. If you didn't read it in high school, I suggest reading it now.

Great Book!!!

The book is great, it should be required reading (or listening) and the performance is peer to none.