Perhaps the most famous opening and closing lines of any novel ever written appear in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. This historic novel is written within the framework of the French Revolution, however its themes are timeless.
A masterful portrait of idealism, love and supreme sacrifice in Paris alive with a revolutionary zeal and a London watching with nervous anticipation, Dickens humanises the story of the French Revolution with four of his greatest characters: the sinister Madame Defarge, the lovely Lucie Manette and her honourable husband Charles Darnay, and the complex, ultimately heroic Sydney Carton.
Through these unforgettable characters, Dickens portrays the human condition in situations involving love, honour, greed, poverty, affluence, vengeance and loyalty. He also explores the meaning and possibility of resurrection. How far would you go to support your country and defend what is yours? Would you give your life for your country? For a lover? For a friend? Do you think people are capable of changing?
This thought-provoking work that is set in both London and Paris, not only provides insight into the time period, but also inspires a long hard look at our own human condition.