A Tale of Two Cities

FROM OUR EDITORS

The human story behind the French Revolution is embodied in four of Dickens's greatest characters: Madame Defarge, Lucie Manette and her husband Charles Darnay, and the misanthrope Sydney Carton whose final sacrifice gives meaning to his life.

ANNOTATION

In the early days of the French Revolution , a young Englishman determines to do the utmost to save the husband of the woman he loves from the guillotine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When the starving French masses rise in hate to overthrow a corrupt and decadent government, both the guilty and innocent become victims of their frenzied anger. Soon nothing stands in the way of the chilling figure they enlist for their cause—La Guillotine—the new invention for efficiently chopping off heads.

Charles Dickens' compelling portrait of the results of terror and treason, love and supreme sacrifice continues to captivate readers around the world. With Frank Muller's brilliant performance, unforgettable characters—the ever-knitting Madame Defarge, the lovely Lucie Manette, her broken father, the honorable Charles Darnay, and the sometimes scurrilous Sydney Carton—burst from the pages, full of life and passion.

SYNOPSIS

A Tale of Two Cities is one of Charles Dickens's most exciting novels. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it tells the story of a family threatened by the terrible events of the past. Doctor Manette was wrongly imprisoned in the Bastille for eighteen years without trial by the aristocratic authorities. Finally released, he is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, who despite her French ancestry has been brought up in London. Lucie falls in love with Charles Darnay, another expatriate, who has abandoned wealth and a title in France because of his political convictions. When revolution breaks out in Paris, Darnay returns to the city to help an old family servant, but there he is arrested because of the crimes committed by his relations. His wife, Lucie, their young daughter, and her aged father follow him across the Channel, thus putting all their lives in danger.

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FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Rita Karr

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." so wrote Dickens in this adapted historical novel. Although the classic language of Dickens is missing from this adaptation, the black and white illustrations and the text tell the tumultuous story of life during this troubled time of the late 1700's in England and France. The characters, from Madame Defarge to Lucie Mannette, come to life on the page in this easy reading version of the classic novel. Written with the younger student in mind, this adaptation moves swiftly through the events of the period. This adaptation is a welcome addition to a classroom library to introduce students to both the historical events associated with the Industrial Revolution in Europe and to the classic literature of Dickens. The novel also provides an excellent source for discussion of social issues with younger students. Part of the "Great Illustrated Classics" series. 2002, ABDO Publishing Company,

AudioFile

The presentation of this classic about the French Revolution, the sufferings of Dr. Manette, and the sacrifice of Sidney Carton maintains Cover to Cover's high standards. Richard Pasco's plummy voice gives the text the richness and dignity it deserves. His characterizations are fine, but his greatest contribution is the measured pace he establishes with the narrator's voice. A scene in which a peasant child is ground under the carriage wheels of a scolding marquis allows Pasco to capture with moving impact the stark opposites of the Revolution. Intensifying the sense of drama, his restraint and deliberation also encourage reflection by the listener. For unabridged recording, a Dickens book requires the verbal presence of a master storyteller solidly in control, and Pasco's voice admirably meets these demands. G.H. ￯﾿ﾽ AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - Paul E. Ferrari

It was the best of books and possibly the best of recorded versions. Dickens￯﾿ﾽs dramatic narrative of the French Revolution and the unremitting vengeance of both Mesdames Defarge and La Guillotine are brought to life by Gordon Griffin￯﾿ﾽs fully voiced reading. His reading is not as rushed as some, but is equally dramatic with flawless enunciation and a broad tonal range. What￯﾿ﾽs more, each thirty-five minute side of the twelve tapes has a certain narrative completeness, ending with about thirty seconds of period harpsichord music. Classroom teachers might find these tapes useful for introducing the book, dealing with difficult passages or simply encouraging reluctant readers. P.E.F. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

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