A Tale of Two Cities

Contributed by Alexei, gr. 12, Jan. 2019

I was initially skeptical if Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities would be able to maintain my interest, but overall I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it. This historical fiction classic is split into three different books set in both London and Paris during the French Revolution.

The story employs a multitude of character perspectives: that of Lucie Manette, a young orphan who reunites with and supports her damaged father, of a French aristocrat named Charles Darnay attempting to escape his affluent past for a quieter life in London, and of Sydney Carton, an unkempt English attorney who laments his wasted life. Though many characters are unrelated when initially introduced, Dickens slowly reveals the underlying associations between these characters for a resolution as the events of the French Revolution unfold.

I found the first volume and the beginning pages of the second book moderately unexciting due to Dickens’ writing style. Because every detail is painstakingly described, the exposition seemed to linger longer than was necessary. However, as the plot threads culminate, the well-developed characters are forced into the inevitable bloody revolt against the French nobility, although what exactly will happen to each character remains uncertain.

I would recommend this book mainly to grade 12 students, as Dickens’ voice can be difficult to read and more attention needs to be applied to reading characters’ dialogue in particular. Readers may also benefit from having prior context about the events and places associated with the French Revolution.