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.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Yes, a succinct and accurate op, one could write all day about the character names alone! I admire your brevity! :-)
TallTone 08.10.2001 14:17
So that's where the "far better thing I do now" quote comes from. Good compact review. TT.
timmyotoole 13.09.2001 19:39
I always assumed Dickens would be boring, but this in fact sounds quite interesing- or is that just your writing style? A well-written, informative opinion, cheers, Timmy.
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.
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.
very helpful by (97%):
helpful by (3%):
