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)

Best narrator for this book!

I tried two other copies of this book before this one and couldn’t get in to the narrator’s voice. This guy nailed it, keeping me engaged and helping me visualize the characters through various distinctive voices for each.

Oldie but a goodie

Now I see why they had us read this in high school. I certainly enjoyed it more this time. Great narrator. A+

Beautiful and gripping

Dickens portrays the horrors of the French Revolution even as the oppressed become the oppressors. Sacrifice and resurrection are recurring themes.

the book was beautifully read and performed.

the book was beautifully written and performed. I enjoyed listening to it. I would not have read the book so listening to such an enjoyable performance made it easy

Dickens, what else to say

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

Since this is a classic story, it is worth reading

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

no changes needed

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Simon Vance is a great narrator

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, i had to take a break. And double check with my daughter who was reading the book in High School to make sure I got all the facts/characters straight.

Any additional comments?

The way Dickens writes is sometimes hard to follow, but ultimately worth the effort

good audiobook

I listened to it on my lunchies. it was a good performance and the story was good too.

Phenomenal

There is a reason this is a classic. although it may start complicated. loved it.

Truly enjoyable.

I do not read or listen to many novels. When I do I listen to classics. I listened to this due to an interest in the French Revolution. The first third was hard to endure, but it was well worth the investment. The reading performance was excellent.

Brilliant; what can I say...

Dickens knows how to shape a character and tell a big story. Vance knows how to read it like no one else. If it's been awhile, this one is well worth revisiting.

Great Story

Didn't much like it in High School, but once I listened to it, really liked the story. Had to listen to spots twice to make sure I understood. Some of the text was hard to follow.