A Tale of Two Cities Summary

Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" is a historical novel set during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution. The story revolves around Dr. Manette, who is released from eighteen years of wrongful imprisonment in the Bastille and reunited with his daughter, Lucie. They move to London, where Lucie marries Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who has renounced his heritage. However, Darnay's past catches up with him when he returns to Paris and is arrested during the Revolution. Sydney Carton, a dissolute but brilliant lawyer who loves Lucie, finds his redemption by sacrificing himself to save Darnay. In a powerful climax, Carton takes Darnay's place at the guillotine, famously declaring, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done." The novel explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the duality of human nature, set against the backdrop of political upheaval and social injustice. "A Tale of Two Cities" remains one of Dickens' most popular and enduring works.