A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities is both Charles Dickens's best-known historical novel and one of the best-selling books of all time. Set before and during the French Revolution, it documents the plight of the three main characters, Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and Sydney Carton. Set against a backdrop of upheaval and uncertainty, it sparkles and shimmers with the complexity of the human condition. As a novel, it does not shirk from answering the big questions, such as how would people behave and what would they believe when their world is turned upside down? It also explores in detail how the theoretical notion of right and wrong can change dramatically when the revolution takes to the street and blood is spilled.

Its influence on popular culture is huge. Its opening sentence, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” is familiar to those who have not even read the novel. It’s a penetrating study on how revolution always has consequences and how freedom can all too easily slip into fanaticism. At first glance, A Tale of Two Cities can be seen as a depressing and disconcerting study of humanity and the world we have built. Yet a more thorough read will reveal it is alive with love, sacrifice, and the hope for a brighter future.