| |
|
A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel by Charles Dickens. The plot centers around the years leading up to French Revolution, and culminates in the Jacobin reign of terror. It tells the story of two men, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look very alike, but are entirely different in character. Darnay is a romantic descended from French aristocrats, while Carton a cynical attorney. The two are in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette.
Other major characters in the book include Dr Manette (Lucie's father) and Madame Defarge, a female revolutionary with a grudge against Darnay's family.
The two cities of the title are London and Paris. The opening line, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times" is one of the most famous in all literature.
The book has been adapted for the cinema several times::