...
Anyone who made people poorer was a target for Dickens’ pen.
Quilp, the money lender from ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ is described thus ‘As ugly a dwarf as you could see anywhere for a penny.’
Ebeneezer Scrooge from ‘A Christmas Carol’ is told ... Read review
Advantages: Can be read over and over. Disadvantages: Complex chapter structure
...who made people poorer was a target for Dickens’ pen.
Quilp, the money lender from ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ is described thus ‘As ugly a dwarf as you could see anywhere for a penny.’
Ebeneezer Scrooge from ‘A Christmas Carol’ is told to help others with his money or die a premature death.
Lawyers are portrayed as money grubbing parasites in many of his works and ... ...
Trying to review a book without giving away the main story and spoiling the read for others is, I believe, the single most difficult thing to do. Many will think the review sketchy and vague, others will think the plot has been given away, what the heck, here it is. J
The story switches between France and England as the characters are introduced and the various scenarios are set, this is typical of Dickens as he binds the threads ... more
Charles Dickens
More of the man.
Anyone who made people poorer was a target for Dickens’ pen.
Quilp, the money lender from ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ is described thus ‘As ugly a dwarf as you could see anywhere for a penny.’
Ebeneezer Scrooge from ‘A Christmas Carol’ is told to help others with his money or die a premature death.
Lawyers are portrayed as money grubbing parasites in many of his works and are often described as ugly people.
A Tale of Two Cities.
Trying to review a book without giving away the main story and spoiling the read for others is, I believe, the single most difficult thing to do. Many will think the review sketchy and vague, others will think the plot has been given away, what the heck, here it is. J
The story switches between France and England as the characters are introduced and the various scenarios are set, this is typical of Dickens as he binds the threads of the stories together.
The two cities are Paris and London.
The time is the French revolution.
The story is of vengeance, love and selfless sacrifice.
The main plank of the story starts in the Bastille, the notorious prison, where people are sent and forgotten about.
A prisoner scribbles a note on a scrap of paper, this note condemns the family who sent him there to the ‘End of their line.’
The prisoner hides the note and forgets about it.
The youngest heir to the condemned family is an honest caring chap who helps all and sundry, he also falls in love with a member of the prisoners family.
The Bastille is stormed and the prisoners released.
Well the bloodletting starts and the prisoners note is found, off to Madame guillotine for the nobles, honest heir and all.
The released prisoner finds he can not stop the proceedings, after all, in his own hand he condemned them to the last of their line.
Meanwhile a likely looking ne’er do well lawyer living in London is about to have his life changed after meeting a pretty girl. (Sounds familiar J )
A trip to Paris for him on a one way ticket is not what he would have anticipated, but, it is what he gets. He is after all a double for the condemned boyfriend.
What a splendid twist by Charles Dickens, get a lawyer to sacrifice himself for another more noble being.
Even in Sidney Carton’s final speech he manages to get a dig in. "’tis a far far better thing I do than I have ever done before…….."
I think Mr Dickens must have been well pleased, he made a lawyer a hero, albeit a dead one, got love to triumph in the face of adversity and made a statement about the consequences of subjugating the masses.
The book makes for compelling reading and, if you think you recognise parts of the story from elsewhere, remember that Dickens wrote it first.
Advantages: A magnificently constructed novel Disadvantages: Very complex in both style and language
...admit that i find it a very difficult task to review and passforward my opinion to such a compelling piece of work. Understandably, to many people Dickens may not be of any interest whatsoever, but i have to disagree. I am not a particularly accomplished reader by any means, and i did find myself struggling through the novel at times, but i can still easily respect the amazing quality of both the way Dickens planned an executed the novel. He wrote ... ...previous occurances and thoughts.
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A BRIEF PLOT
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The Novel has a grim mood throughout and the main theme is one of RESURRETION, and RECALLING TO LIFE. Please understand throughout that i will be trying my best not to spoil any aspect of the novel for future readers and will therefore keep the plot very brief. Alongside the French Revolution and Dickens threading through themes of resurrection, we meet many ...
jackwalmsley 03.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Advantages: Everything good about Dickens' style is displayed in a challenging and consuming read. Disadvantages: Perhaps starts a little slowly before gaining speed, very challenging in parts, but is rewarding.
A Tale of Two Cities is a well known and popular novel by Charles Dickens, typically considered among his best publications. Although this is not my personal favourite in terms of Dickens' publications it is still deserving of all 5 stars.
The great thing about this book is that it is more than just a fascinating and twisting story; but also an insight into class conflicts and struggles of the French Revolution. From perhaps the most famous opening ... ...sure if I can name a more intriguing character than Madam Defarge.
This can be, in parts, difficult to follow and fully understand, but throughout you can feel Dickens' genious in the putting together of this complicated masterpiece. The only disadvantage I could possibly name is that perhaps it starts a little too slowly; I certainly enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first.
This is another great read for any fans of Dickens' work, ...
dizzy07 02.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Advantages: Gripping novel set during French Revolution Disadvantages: Dickens gets a bit gory
A Tale of Two Cities starts with one of the most famous opening lines in English literature - 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'. Over the English Channel in Paris, the French Revolution is underway at the end of the eighteenth century. This means that the world for ordinary people is turning upside down. The decadent king, Louis XIV and his queen, Antoinette, will be excuted by guillotine as the people demand an end to absolutist ... ...time, there was a threat that these ideas may spread to England. As such, it is Dicken's only historical novel. It is also my favourite, not that I do not like David Copperfield and his others. He manages to avoid the over-sentimentality that some characters indulge in. ...
aspebbles 10.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Advantages: Exciting, life-affirming, great well-structured writing Disadvantages: you need to concentrate, it's not 'light'
...long for our modern tastes. A Tale of Two Cities is an exciting adventure, with strong characters. If you're not used to the Victorian style of writing, this is a good introduction. there is plenty of action - though to describe the novel as 'action-packed' would be misleading. The recurring theme of liberty, second chances and faith in the human spirit is immensely reassuring. Some advice: if you're reading this story for the first time, don't be ...
Chess_Peace 10.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Advantages: Wonderful story Disadvantages: Needs quite a bit of time to get through it
...the narrator, it takes on a life of its own. I drive a lot up and down the A9 in Scotland, and it took me 4 trips in the car to finish it - it's quite a lengthy piece of work, but well worth it nonetheless, plus it fairly makes the time pass as you wait in the queue to drive over the foot & mouth mats. On the last trip back down south I had tears pouring down my face ( not the safest of driving procedures, I have to say!) as the tragic ending unfolded. ...
amuir1019 30.04.2001 (28.04.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
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