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BOOK REVIEW: A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a book full of quotes. It is the book, in which the lines must be quoted and not para-phrased. I remember first picking up this book when I was fifteen but never finished. Until last year, when I finished the book. Charles Dickens has been a very important personality in my life. I got to know him when i was thirteen when I remember reading Oliver Twist which had an impact over me at that time.

Dickens characters always has never failed to amaze me but A Tale of Two Cities is all about the storyline which is set during era of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. It is a story of love, betrayal, courage, and of sacrifice and redemption. A Tale of Two Cities begins with Miss Lucie Manette and Mr. Jarvis Lorry make a trip to Paris because they believe they’ve found her father. Dickens describes their venture as on their, “way to dig someone out of the grave.” After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the ageing Doctor Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter.

Years later after Doctor’s release, Lucie and Dr. Manette take part in the trial of Charles Darnay, who is found innocent, and Darnay seeks Lucie’s hand in marriage. When revolutionaries learn that Darnay is related to an evil aristocrat, they imprison him the next time he is in France. Sydney Carton determines he can bring value to his life by rescuing Darnay. The novel successfully cover the theme of self-sacrifice and self-worth. It also provides social commentaries on British and French culture and politics.

Charles Dickens based his historical details of French Revolution and the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysms of the French Revolution, on Carlyle’s great work – The French Revolution – and also on his own observations and investigations during his numerous visits to Paris. Unlike the descriptions of London, Dickens fails to interest me in his observations of the French Revolution. He oversimplifies the causes of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.

Many people say it is a mystery novel but the point is arguable that it is not. A Tale of Two Cities fails to astonish me as Dickens other work, especially the ‘real’ mystery novel Bleak House and satisfying David Copperfield.

3 out of 5.

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Hildred Hinzmann says: February 12, 2018 at 6:31 PM Thank you for your great book review. I really like the way you write.After i found your review i started searching and found the book on http://www.goreadabook.org/book/764441043/a-tale-of-two-cities . Now i almost finished the book and i I must say A Tale of Two Cities is a great book and everyone should read it. Not sure if i can to paste a link(sorry if not) but anyway the book is fantastic and also your review.
authorstephanieparkermckean says: November 23, 2017 at 12:14 AM Well balanced review.
Chizurue says: October 24, 2017 at 4:03 PM Reblogged this on Mnemosyne and commented: “A book full of quotes. It is the book, in which the lines must be quoted and not para-phrased.” This might just be perfect for a #QuoteHoarder like me. I think I will add this in my to-be-read shelf in honor of Tessa Gray and Will Herondale’s love for the book.
Annette Rey says: July 11, 2017 at 9:27 AM I read this when I was about twelve years old and was bowled over by it. I became a fan of Dickens then. It's wonderful you do so much reading. We grow when we read. :)
Brooke W says: July 9, 2017 at 8:04 PM Thanks for your review Aman, I was reading a few Tale Of Two Cities essays that mention a lot of points you made if you want to check those out!
cellenbogen says: March 20, 2017 at 5:09 AM Well, I never thought of Two Cities as a mystery. I do like it more than you do. I guess I don't mind the broad strokes he uses to paint the French Revolution. I didn't know about the Carlyle, so thanks for that. I will have to try Bleak House one of these days. And I'd love to hear more about why Dickens matters so much to you.
Patrisya says: April 28, 2016 at 1:21 PM I love all works of Dickens, however, David Copperfield is my favorite book of all time! In the last few years, I have been living in Poland, Turkey and Dubai. This book is always with me, wherever I go.
aubreyleaman says: August 2, 2015 at 9:05 PM I agree that the book isn’t a mystery in the typical sense. But at the same time, discovering how the characters fit together (the Marquis and Charles Darnay, Madame Defarge and the Darnays, etc.) is kind of a mystery in and of itself. By the end of the book you have unraveled all of the intertwining plot lines that retrospectively show why the characters acted in the way that they did (which is basically exactly what a classic mystery novel does). I love this method of writing!
Ste J says: August 2, 2015 at 6:22 PM I wasn't too impressed on my first read through, mainly because of the standard of his other works but the more I think about it the dualities of the main characters and cities the more I find myself impressed with it.
lotsoflove200989 says: August 2, 2015 at 1:31 PM AToTC is a great Charles Dickens read, but it is definitely not the best. Great Expectations and Hard Times reveal Dickens at his very best 'dark and dreary' London image.

Thank you for your great book review. I really like the way you write.After i found your review i started searching and found the book on http://www.goreadabook.org/book/764441043/a-tale-of-two-cities . Now i almost finished the book and i I must say A Tale of Two Cities is a great book and everyone should read it. Not sure if i can to paste a link(sorry if not) but anyway the book is fantastic and also your review.

@amanhimself says: February 12, 2018 at 9:09 PM Glad you read it and ofcourse you can paste the link 👍

Glad you read it and ofcourse you can paste the link 👍

Well balanced review.

Reblogged this on Mnemosyne and commented:
“A book full of quotes. It is the book, in which the lines must be quoted and not para-phrased.” This might just be perfect for a #QuoteHoarder like me.
I think I will add this in my to-be-read shelf in honor of Tessa Gray and Will Herondale’s love for the book.

I read this when I was about twelve years old and was bowled over by it. I became a fan of Dickens then. It's wonderful you do so much reading. We grow when we read. :)

@amanhimself says: July 12, 2017 at 7:12 PM Rightly said Annette. We do grow when we read. I admire Dickens' writing from childhood days too. First book I read of him was Oliver Twist.

Rightly said Annette. We do grow when we read.

I admire Dickens' writing from childhood days too. First book I read of him was Oliver Twist.

Thanks for your review Aman, I was reading a few Tale Of Two Cities essays that mention a lot of points you made if you want to check those out!

@amanhimself says: July 13, 2017 at 7:36 PM Thanks for sharing link. Will check it out.

Thanks for sharing link. Will check it out.

Well, I never thought of Two Cities as a mystery. I do like it more than you do. I guess I don't mind the broad strokes he uses to paint the French Revolution. I didn't know about the Carlyle, so thanks for that. I will have to try Bleak House one of these days.

And I'd love to hear more about why Dickens matters so much to you.

I love all works of Dickens, however, David Copperfield is my favorite book of all time! In the last few years, I have been living in Poland, Turkey and Dubai. This book is always with me, wherever I go.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 28, 2016 at 5:55 PM It's a inspiring work of fiction I have to agree. Dickens did really well in that books.

It's a inspiring work of fiction I have to agree. Dickens did really well in that books.

I agree that the book isn’t a mystery in the typical sense. But at the same time, discovering how the characters fit together (the Marquis and Charles Darnay, Madame Defarge and the Darnays, etc.) is kind of a mystery in and of itself. By the end of the book you have unraveled all of the intertwining plot lines that retrospectively show why the characters acted in the way that they did (which is basically exactly what a classic mystery novel does). I love this method of writing!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 2, 2015 at 11:27 PM If you loved this method of writing, believe me, you should read his Bleak House. It's a real mystery and surprising part his, he has taken account of so many characters and remembers them all by the end of the book.

If you loved this method of writing, believe me, you should read his Bleak House. It's a real mystery and surprising part his, he has taken account of so many characters and remembers them all by the end of the book.

aubreyleaman says: August 3, 2015 at 12:02 AM Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check it out!

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check it out!

I wasn't too impressed on my first read through, mainly because of the standard of his other works but the more I think about it the dualities of the main characters and cities the more I find myself impressed with it.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 2, 2015 at 11:26 PM It does lack and while his other works don't. But yeah, it is a book to be read if you are reading Charles Dickens.

It does lack and while his other works don't. But yeah, it is a book to be read if you are reading Charles Dickens.

AToTC is a great Charles Dickens read, but it is definitely not the best. Great Expectations and Hard Times reveal Dickens at his very best 'dark and dreary' London image.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 2, 2015 at 11:24 PM I haven't read both of the titles you have mentioned, but for me David Copperfield works fine. I am having a copy go Hard Times with me and hopefully soon, I will be done with it and will be posting a review then.

I haven't read both of the titles you have mentioned, but for me David Copperfield works fine. I am having a copy go Hard Times with me and hopefully soon, I will be done with it and will be posting a review then.

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