|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
From AudioFile
Dickens specialized in large casts of characters, and Tom Baker artfully differentiates major and minor characters, men and women, young and old, French and English in this story of the French Revolution. With intonation Baker creates the sound of galloping horses, the terror of those soon to be guillotined, the joy of the crowd. Certainly, this is deservedly labeled a "Classic Bestseller." M.G.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“[A Tale of Two Cities] has the best of Dickens and the worst of Dickens: a dark, driven opening, and a celestial but melodramatic ending; a terrifyingly demonic villainess and (even by Dickens’ standards) an impossibly angelic heroine. Though its version of the French Revolution is brutally simplified, its engagement with the immense moral themes of rebirth and terror, justice, and sacrifice gets right to the heart of the matter . . . For every reader in the past hundred and forty years and for hundreds to come, it is an unforgettable ride.”–from the Introduction by Simon Schama
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way-in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way-in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most unforgettable opening and closing sentences ever found in a book!,
By
This review is from: Tale Of Two Cities (Paperback)
I will never, the rest of my life forget these two sentences. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...." and at closing "It is a far, far, better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."
Wow, this is not your usual Dickens. No quirky characters with strange names and laugh out loud moments, just a darn good story -- the story of two cities, London and Paris. It is difficult to put the plot into words, but when the book begins you are in London at the time of the American revolution and spies (or suspected spies) abound, and the story eventually switches to France prior to and during the French revolution. Dickens does a marvelous job (as always) of building his story one step at a time and slowly peeling back the layers one at a time. This is not a put down and pick it up a week later kind of a book, it is very intense and complicated and you have to pay close attention. I was just floored at how he sucked me in with his descriptions of the mobs, terror and the madness of the revolution leading you to a nail biting finish. I admit to holding my breath during those last few pages! Highly recommended, and well worth the time to discover (or rediscover) an old classic.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best ever written,
This review is from: A Tale of Two Cities (Hardcover)
A TALE OF TWO CITIES, by Charles Dickens, is without a doubt one of the great classics of literature. Set in the time of the French Revolution, an unsuspecting Frenchman, Charles Darnay, is thrown into the middle of the revolution as a victim of the vengeance of the revolutionaries. His life is saved only through the hidden kindness of a comrade. This book is an excellent account of the kinds of things that happened in France during the late 1700's. It is truly a soap opera for its time with love, heartbreak, mystery, and joy which is what makes this book one you should definitely read. Also try BARK OF THE DOGWOOD for a jaw-dropping and riveting read.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of the Best:,
By
This review is from: Signet Classics Tale Of Two Cities (Mass Market Paperback)
Charles Dickens' genius is clearly displayed in this excellent work. His characters are multifaceted and complex. The time that he spends describing the physical characteristics, habits, education and social/life background of each character are all necessary to the plot. By the end you will identify with them as real people and more. Dickens' use of a story within a story at the end adds a fascinating twist. However, I do not recommend this book for those who seek instant gratification, or for those who require a unidirectional plot. There are many instances where Mr. Dickens leads his reader down what could be construed as a dark alley or a dead end. Read on. You will be rewarded. DON'T MISS THIS ONE RJ
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
