A Tale of Two Cities - Softcover

Dickens, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 754770638X ISBN 13: 9787547706381

Publisher: Tongxin Press, 2013

Synopsis

t was the time of the French Revolution — a time of great change and great danger. It was a time when injustice was met by a lust for vengeance, and rarely was a distinction made between the innocent and the guilty. Against this tumultuous historical backdrop, Dickens' great story of unsurpassed adventure and courage unfolds. Unjustly imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille, Dr. Alexandre Manette is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, and safely transported from France to England. It would seem that they could take up the threads of their lives in peace. As fate would have it though, the pair are summoned to the Old Bailey to testify against a young Frenchman — Charles Darnay — falsely accused of treason. Strangely enough, Darnay bears an uncanny resemblance to another man in the courtroom, the dissolute lawyer's clerk Sydney Carton. It is a coincidence that saves Darnay from certain doom more than once. Brilliantly plotted, the novel is rich in drama, romance, and heroics that culminate in a daring prison escape in the shadow of the guillotine. After a long and undeserved imprisonment in France, Doctor Manette is released to the care of his daughter, Lucie, who had previously thought him dead, and as a result of their removal to England they meet Jarvis Lorry, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, three men that will feature largely in the story of their lives, and in the events that draw them back to France, as well as those that occur during the Revolution going on there at the time. This story largely centers around Lucie, and all the adoring men in her life. She is such an angelic, perfect creature that there doesn’t seem to be much to her, other than her radiance and beauty, but I think the understanding, caring way she handled Sydney Carton’s confession gave her a bit more depth and I almost thought her deserving of his deep regard. For me, Sydney Carton is by far and away the most interesting character in this story. He is a brooding man, resigned to his own unhappiness, in love with a woman he can never have, and willing to give her everything (even his life) if she should ever have need of it. Plus, the scene at the end with the young seamstress is so beautiful! I’m glad all his efforts were recognized for what they were worth in the end. This Top Five Classics Edition is organized for optimum maneuverability, is prettily arranged, very readable, and includes illustrations by Hablot K. Browne and Frederick Barnard (combining the illustrations from their various editions). A great reading copy for a great price!

About this title

Review

One of the most glorious achievements of publishing in our time --Daily Telegraph

It will never be more possible for a more complete and perfect edition to be put on the market --Arthur Waugh, Past President, Dickens Fellowship

It will never be more possible for a more complete and perfect edition to be put on the market --Arthur Waugh, Past President, Dickens Fellowship

Book Description

The Vintage Classics Dickens Series: six beautifully tailored editions of Dickens' most beloved books

Edition details

• Publisher: Tongxin Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 754770638X
• ISBN 13: 9787547706381
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 258