A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos] Audiobook By Charles Dickens cover art

A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos]

 Preview
Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm PT.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just $0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 audiobook per month of your choice from our unparalleled catalog.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos]

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offers ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm PT.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $33.38

Buy for $33.38

LIMITED TIME OFFER. Get 3 months for $0.99 a month. Get this deal.

"It was the best of times and the worst of times." In one of the most famous openings of any novel, Dickens masterfully presents the turmoil of the French Revolution, which is the backdrop for a novel of love, patience, hope, and self-sacrifice. This version is read by Anton Lesser, whose award-winning Dickens recordings in their abridged form has now resulted in the opportunity to read the full unabridged text. His singular characterizations led to him being chosen by Peter Ackroyd to play Dickens himself in the major TV account of the writer.

Public Domain (P)2005 Naxos Audiobooks Ltd. Classics French Revolution
Gripping Plot • Sublime Writing • Masterful Characterizations • Remarkable Story • Powerful Ending

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
When Anton Lesser and DIckens come together it is a gift. Even if you know this story, even if you have read it, you will rediscover it through the brilliance of this superlative actor who breathes life into each character with such passion and specificity that you are sure he must be channeling the spirit of each one. He illuminates Dickens. Toward the end my heart was pounding even though I knew the outcome. How is this possible? Because of Anton Lesser.

Exquisite

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Anton's reading is brilliant, bringing to life Dickens' characters in this gripping tale. Never a slow moment.

Anton Lesser Rules

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A book that should be in every personal library. Dickens' work should be read and enjoyed by all.

Classic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
One of my favorite works of literature wonderfully brought to life by mr. Lesser. Thank you

Magnificent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Anton Lesser brought this story to life!! I've never heard such a fantastic story teller! it's going to be hard to listen to others after this one!

Brought to Life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The performance makes an already wonderful story even more remarkable. The reader switches between male and female voices with such ease that the listener forgets that only one person is reading. It is a long, 19th century novel, but it was easily digested in this format. I was extremely impressed and hated when it ended. If Academy Awards were presented for book reading, Anton Lesser would be a shoe-in to win.

Absolutely Remarkable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It has been over 10 years since I first read A Tale of Two Cities, and I forgot everything but the first few chapters and the very end. I've never listened to a Dickens audio book, but it's a good fit for me - helps me persevere when the chapters feel long and numerous. This narrator was EXCELLENT. He brought so much feeling to the characters and the narrative, the voices were excellent (like Mr. Cruncher's peculiar dialog), just a well-done production. But if your emotions are like mine, don't listen to the last few chapters when you're driving. I kept crying as the story drew to a close!

A rich story, with an excellent narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I had always heard of this story, but Lessor's performance takes it beyond anything I could have imagined. The plot is gripping, and rendering of the characters is on-point. I have listened to this book 3 times; the portrayal always yields something new.

Simply Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
But I LOVED this book! I struggled through it in high school, but hearing Anton Lesser read it gave it a whole new dimension.

I think I would listen to it again. Great story, great characters, and funny British understatement.

Think I will listen to all the “Lesser” Dickens.

I may not be the first to say this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have been listening to audiobooks for years now. This recording is the best.
Dickens writing is sublime most of the time, but sprinkled with a lot of melodrama. His villains are totally black, his heroes and particularly his heroines unbelievably spotless and perfect and some scenes are very stilted and unreal, but mostly he writes like an angel. His faults are easily born so as to enjoy the amazing tenor of the bulk of his writing.

Would you recommend A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos] to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. It is a bit dark and very melodramatic but beautifully writtten

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

Anton Lesser's talent for all voices, young or old, male or female as well as his array of accents and finally the good actor's ability to infuse the writing with real and enlivening expression and emotion makes this audiobook a real treat.

Anton Lesser does justice to a wonderful classic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews