Is it a far, far better book than you have ever read before?

At the time this was written, France and England had the same social conditions. The aristocracy ruled, the peons suffered beyond suffering. Then came the French Revolution. Dickens was trying to point out that if major social changes weren't made in England, an English Revolution might break out. Therefore, the comparison is: A Tale of Two Cities, London and Paris.

Plot Summary
Dickens developed his characters well and causes the reader to sympathize with them. Several characters include:

Charles Darnay was a Frenchman who renounced his title and properties and fled to England. He married Lucy Manette and had a daughter with her. Later, he was compelled to go to England to save a servant charged with a crime. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong time: the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.

Sidney Carton is what he calls a “resurrectionist.” We would call him a grave robber. At first he is a humorous, albeit unimportant (seemingly) character, but later you see just what kind of a man he really is.

Dr. Manette was imprisoned in the Bastille by members of the aristocracy, regarding something he did as a doctor. At first, he is the hero. When the Bastille is stormed, he is dragged out and placed on a pedestal. He is their figurehead, their rallying point. But eventually emotions start boiling…

Therese DeFarge is one of the foremost leaders of the “guillotine the aristocracy” movement. She is responsible for seeing that “justice” is done and finding anti-republican sympathizers and conspirators and bringing forward witnesses (true and false) to testify to their “guilt.”

Charles Darnay is arrested for being a former aristocrat, but at his “trial” Dr. Manette convinces everyone of his innocence…everyone except Madame DeFarge. She brings Darnay up for “trial” a second time and this time he is convicted. He is sentenced to die, but in steps Sidney...

Tips for Reading
Dickens does everything in this book for a reason, so don’t think that anything is superfluous: it’s not. Dickens develops his characters through their (often-heroic) action(s) and through dialogue with other characters. The first half of the book is, admittedly, boring, but it’s important. Don’t get discouraged and stop reading, it gets better as soon as the Bastille is stormed. You will be glad you read this, I promise.

Analysis
Okay, so “Tips for Reading” is a bit subjective. But isn’t an analysis of style, too? Oh well, I digress, or progress, or regress, or aggress, or something like that.

Dickens marvels me with this novel. Why? Three things will win my heart (to a novel, that is): humor (not cheap, but clever), characterization, and plot. You have to admit, A Tale of Two Cities (Saga of a Pair of Urban Areas as my former World History teacher once said), is funny, if you look into it. Sidney’s occupation—a ressurectionist—boy, what a way to euphimise. Of course there is the part where his wife is praying for him…but I’ll make you read that.

Characterization is awesome. If you’ve read any of my book reviews I’m sure you wonder if I can analyze anything but characterization. The characters have to be believable. That is a must. They have to be lovable—or at least make you able to sympathize (or is it empathize? I always get confused…). They have to elicit emotion. They must make you delineate your feelings for them, then change those feelings. What good is a “saga of the human spirit” if the characters are two-dimensional and flat? Or if you hate them?

Great story. Lags in places, of course, but overall a true masterpiece. I’ve basically told you what it is about in my character blurbs at the top, but it is up to you to learn who does what and why and what happens. It is you who must fall into the wonderfully woven web of this story. It is you…who makes a buying decision…

Ratings
Please see my profile page for a short explanation of this system.

Beginning: 5 (10--importance, 0--boring)
End: 10
Characterization: 10
Plot: 10
Style: 9

Overall: 8.8