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ISBN: 1398866954
ISBN13: 9781398866959

A Tale of Two Cities: Gilded Pocket Edition

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ISBN: 1398866954
ISBN13: 9781398866959
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A brand-new, unused copy in perfect condition.

Formats

Conditions

A brand-new, unused copy in perfect condition.

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Book Overview

Charles Dickens's classic historical novel of the French Revolution

A Tale of Two Cities portrays a world on fire, split between Paris and London during the brutal and bloody events of the French Revolution. After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille the aging Dr Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There, two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil lanes of London, they are all drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror and soon fall under the lethal shadow of La Guillotine.

This edition uses the text as it appeared in its first serial publication in 1859 to convey the full scope of Dickens's vision, and includes the original illustrations by H.K. Browne ('Phiz'). Richard Maxwell's introduction discusses the intricate interweaving of epic drama with personal tragedy.

Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. This description may be from another edition of this product.

Format:
Hardcover
Language:
English
ISBN:
1398866954
ISBN13:
9781398866959
Release Date:
June 2026
Publisher:
Sirius international (Editions)
Length:
368 Pages
Weight:
0.70 lbs.
Dimensions:
0.7″ × 4.1″ × 6.6″
13 - 17 Years9 - 12 YearsBookTokClassicsFictionGenre FictionHistoricalHumanitiesLiteraryLiteratureLiterature & Fiction

More by Charles Dickens

Generally regarded as one of the giants of English literature, Charles Dickens enjoyed extensive popularity during his lifetime and his books continue to be widely read. Born in 1812 in England, Dickens did factory work as a child and had little formal education. While working as a reporter, Dickens published his first stories and sketches under the pen name Boz. Dickens' first novel, The Pickwick Papers, published in monthly installments ending in 1837, was hugely popular. Following that success, Dickens became a full-time novelist, producing fifteen novels, many published in weekly or monthly installments. He also wrote novellas, nonfiction articles, and hundreds of short stories. Dickens toured widely through Europe and America, presenting lectures and readings from his novels and stories. A Victorian ‘rock star', Dickens is also the author of A Tale of Two Cities, perhaps the bestselling novel of all time. A favorite of theatrical producers and filmmakers, Dickens' works have been adapted hundreds of times for film and theatre. A Christmas Carol is one of the best-known novellas of all time, and is produced annually in thousands of theatres worldwide. Among the more frequently adapted are David Copperfield, Oliver Twist (the basis for the musical Oliver!), and Great Expectations. Dickens died in 1870.

Customer Reviews

58 customer ratings | 9 reviews
Write a Review

A Masterpiece it is!

Amazing character development and unforgettable dynamics. This is truly a literary work of art. A must read for those interested in human complexity and its impact on the course of history. Please do not get the short classics version. Go for the full unabridged edition to do the story justice.

0

Enthralled in the Tales.

Captivated by the interwoven connections of past and present. Descriptive enough to conjure vivid imagery, without feeling bogged down or overwhelmed with adjectives. Looked up new words after reading however a noticeably easy read considering it’s from 1859!

0

Abridged

As an adult I did not want an abridged book. Really disappointed. Waste of money.

5

The must read again book!

Read it in high school many years ago & just read again, & appreciated it much more as an adult. This has to be one of the crowning glories of Charles Dickens...."it was the best of times, it was the worst of times....." What a way to start a book! And the ending was just as poignant...."it is a far far better thing I do than I have ever done...on his way to the guillotine. How Dickens contrasts Paris & London, love & hatred, war & peace, requited & unrequited love...it is a masterpiece of historical fiction. It is the substitionary love that Christ took on for us, innocent yet willing to pay for our sin. Here, the unsavory, drunkard lawyer does the same, trading places with the woman he loves husband, knowing he will be killed. Its an amazingly wonderful tale weaving in fascinating characters into a horrible, bloody, atrocity of a war between France & England and the overtaking of the government and the aristocracy of Paris by the poor and dejected who turn out to be ruthless and barbaric.

8

Vengeance Versus Forgiveness

It’s the ultimate mystery novel: characters act strangely, but always for a reason. Miscellaneous people drift in and out, but they’re not truly miscellaneous — you just have to wait to see how they’re connected. And like any good mystery, the payoff at the end is worth the time it takes to get there...and what a payoff! Dickens is a master of the type of narration that simultaneously moves forward and back in time. In other words, strategically placed revelations from the past inform the present and shape the future. The brilliant timing both of his hints and of the actual revelations is a bonus field of study.

8

Quite possibly, the best book ever.

I cannot say enough about this story. This is truely a masterpiece from the familiar opening to the satisfying conclusion, a work of art. Beautiful. Sydney Carton is a cheracter that I will not soon forget. If you read nothing else, read this. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.

9

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