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A Tale of Two Cities
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About this work
A Tale of Two Cities is Charles Dickens's 1859 historical novel set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. Through a story of sacrifice and resurrection, it weighs private love against public terror and asks what a person will give for someone they love. Its opening and closing lines are among the most famous in the language.
About the author — Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens (1812 to 1870) was an English novelist regarded by many as the greatest of the Victorian era, creator of an unmatched gallery of characters. He combined gripping storytelling with sharp social conscience.
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People also ask
What is A Tale of Two Cities about?
Love, sacrifice, and revolution across London and Paris during the French Revolution. Its plot turns on a man who gives everything for the woman he loves and the family she has chosen.
What is the famous line from A Tale of Two Cities?
Its opening, that it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and its closing line about a far, far better thing, are among the most quoted in English literature.
Is it a good read?
Yes. It is one of Dickens's most tightly plotted and emotionally direct novels, and its themes of sacrifice and renewal give it enduring power.