Summary
Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities remains one of the bestselling books of all time. Set in London and Paris between 1775 and 1793, this tale of romance, sacrifice, and redemption revolving around the French Revolution captivated readers when it was first released in weekly installments in 1859. With its famous opening lines contrasting “the best of times” and “the worst of times,” A Tale of Two Cities offers a sweeping view of social injustice and human nature. This classic work of historical fiction has been adapted numerous times for film, television, radio, and the stage.
Plot
A Tale of Two Cities takes place in London and Paris, driven by events leading up to the French Revolution and its early years. The story follows several characters caught up in the violent upheaval of the era, including the French aristocrat Charles Darnay and the cynical English lawyer Sydney Carton.
The story begins as Dr. Manette is released after 18 years of imprisonment in the Bastille and reunited with his daughter Lucie in London. Years later, French emigrant Charles Darnay renounces his aristocratic heritage and falls in love with Lucie. They marry and have a daughter, while Sydney Carton, a cynical English barrister who also loves Lucie, promises to make any sacrifice for her.
When Darnay returns to Paris to help a family servant, he is arrested as an aristocrat. Dr. Manette, Lucie, and their family go to Paris to save him. Though Darnay is initially freed, he is soon arrested again and sentenced to death by the guillotine. That’s when Sydney Carton steps in with a bold and selfless plan.
Themes
Resurrection and renewal
Social injustice and class struggle
Sacrifice and redemption
Fate and history
Violence and oppression
Loyalty and betrayal
Duality and parallels
Setting
A Tale of Two Cities is set primarily in London and Paris in the late 18th century, spanning the years from 1775 to 1793. This tumultuous time period encompasses the events leading up to and early years of the French Revolution, allowing Charles Dickens to explore themes of social injustice, upheaval, and redemption against a dramatic historical backdrop.
In London, much of the action takes place in the affluent Soho neighborhood, where Dr. Manette and his daughter Lucie reside after being reunited. Other key London locations include the Old Bailey courthouse, where Charles Darnay stands trial, and Tellson's Bank, which serves as a link between the two cities. The novel portrays London as a place of relative stability compared to Paris, though not without its own social inequities.
The Paris scenes are set primarily in the impoverished Saint Antoine district, home to the Defarges' wine shop and a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment. As the story progresses, other notable Parisian settings include the imposing Bastille prison, the opulent Monseigneur's mansion, and the Place de la Révolution where the guillotine carries out its grim work. Through these contrasting urban environments, Dickens vividly brings to life the stark divisions and mounting tensions of pre-revolutionary French society.
Characters
Charles Darnay: A French aristocrat who renounces his family and title. He marries Lucie Manette and is wrongly imprisoned during the Revolution.
Sydney Carton: A cynical English barrister who resembles Darnay and is also in love with Lucie.
Dr. Alexandre Manette: Lucie's father, a physician who was unjustly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years. He struggles with trauma from his imprisonment.
Lucie Manette: Dr. Manette's daughter and Charles Darnay's wife. She is kind and devoted to her family.
Madame Defarge: A vengeful revolutionary leader who knits the names of those to be executed. She seeks revenge against the Evrémonde family.
Monsieur Ernest Defarge: Madame Defarge's husband and owner of a wine shop. He is a key revolutionary leader but more moderate than his wife.
Mr. Jarvis Lorry: A loyal banker at Tellson's Bank who assists the Manette family. He is a true friend to Dr. Manette and Lucie.
Miss Pross: Lucie's devoted governess and companion. She fiercely protects Lucie and her family.
Jerry Cruncher: A porter at Tellson's Bank who moonlights as a grave robber. He provides both comic relief and crucial assistance to the main characters.
The Marquis St. Evrémonde: Darnay's cruel uncle who embodies the arrogance of the French aristocracy.
Quick facts
A Tale of Two Cities is one of only two historical novels written by Charles Dickens, the other being Barnaby Rudge.
The famous opening line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” is one of the most recognizable first lines in literature.
The novel's famous final line, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done,” has been widely quoted and referenced in popular culture.
The novel was originally published in weekly installments in Dickens' literary periodical All the Year Round in 1859.
The novel’s theme of self-sacrifice and the character of Sydney Carton was inspired by Dickens's performance in a play by Wilkie Collins called The Frozen Deep.
At approximately 135,000 words, A Tale of Two Cities is Dickens's shortest novel.
The character of Lucie Manette was likely based on Ellen Ternan, a young actress Dickens was romantically involved with.
A Tale of Two Cities has been adapted numerous times for film, television, radio, and the stage, including several musicals and operas.
About the Author
Charles Dickens was one of the most popular and influential English novelists of the Victorian era. He began his career as a journalist before achieving fame with his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, in 1837. He went on to write numerous beloved and acclaimed classics including Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and Bleak House. Dickens's vivid characters, intricate plots, and sharp social commentary made him immensely popular with readers across class lines during his lifetime.
Born in 1812 in Portsmouth, Dickens endured a difficult childhood that included working in a factory at age 12 when his father was imprisoned for debt. His early experiences profoundly influenced his writing. A master of serialized fiction, Dickens would publish most of his major novels in monthly or weekly installments, building suspense with cliffhanger endings that kept Victorian readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter. His writing style was marked by a flair for caricature, flights of fancy, and sentimental scenes juxtaposed with harsh social realities. Through his fiction, Dickens powerfully depicted the ills of Victorian society and championed social reform.
Beyond his literary output, Dickens was a tireless performer who captivated audiences with dramatic readings from his works. He undertook numerous reading tours in Britain and America that further cemented his fame. Dickens died in 1870 at age 58, leaving his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.
