A tale of two cities

Description

A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. In the Introduction to the Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction, critic Don D'Ammassa argues that it is an adventure novel because the protagonists are in constant danger of being imprisoned or killed. As Dickens's best-known work of historical fiction, A Tale of Two Cities is said to be one of the best-selling novels of all time. In 2003, the novel was ranked 63rd on the BBC's The Big Read poll. The novel has been adapted for film, television, radio, and the stage, and has continued to influence popular culture.

First Sentence

DEPENDING ON WHO you listened to, it was either the best of times, or it was the worst of times.

Subjects

Other Editions

• A tale of two citiesChapman and Hall1859-01-01
• A Tale of Two CitieseBookFeedbooks1859-01-01
• Shuang cheng jiLuo tuo shu dian1948-01-01
• A tale of two cities.F. Watts1969-01-01
• A Tale of Two CitiesMass Market PaperbackSignet Classic1980-01-01
• Tale of Two CitiesPenguin Canada1981-01-01