Rating: 
Summary: Master of language and style
Review: A Tale of Two Cities is set in the two cities of London and Paris, in the fourth quarter of the eighteenth century. A Doctor Manette is brought from France, where he has been wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years, to England where his daughter has been raised. They testify in a trial against Charles Darnay, who is eventually aquitted and later marries Miss Manette. Darnay is really a French nobleman, the Marquis Evremonde, who has left his estate in France to work for a living in humble circumstances in England. During the French Revolution, his representative in the old country is arrested, and the idealistic Darnay goes home to defend this man only to get himself arrested. This occurs during the Terror, and Darnay must expect to be executed as a treacherous emigrant. The final chapters of the book revolve around the effort to save Darnay and his family from the guillotine. The book seems to have two distinct parts. In the beginning, Dickens mainly describes settings and characters, while the plot is mostly invisible. Then, as the end of the book approaches, focus moves to a chain of more or less surprising events, which bind together other seemingly disconnected events in the first chapters. Towards the end, the Tale is almost a Thriller. Dickens reveals himself as a master of the English language, a genius of style and a great wit early in the book. His descriptions rival those of Turgenev, although his descriptions of misery are in a moralizing tone that is never heard from the more subtle Russian. One problem I found with this book is that the characters seem a little too black and white, there is little of the psychological complexity found in, say, the writings of Dostoevski or Ibsen. Two interesting exceptions are Sydney Carton, a family friend with great ability and potential but a life-long lack of self-control, and Dr. Manette, who we find struggling to repress the memory of his imprisonment. A Tale of Two Cities is certainly great literature from a writer who even in the most gloomy circumstances finds something to amuse us. But I find it hard to suffer with his poor virtuous Ms. Manette/Mrs. Darnay with her blonde hair, blue eyes, unlimited loyalty, and talented interior design. She is simply too much, too perfect, too unreal. As for Dickens' description of the Great Revolution, vivid and engaging as it is, it is plagued by the same hyperbolic tendency. A Tale of Two Cities, then, is a highly enjoyable and fascinating read, but it doesn't have the complexity and insight characteristic of the very best novels (in my humble and subjective opinion).
Rating:
Summary: Good, Gooder, Goodest
Review: I read this book years ago and think of it as on one of the better stories of Charles Dickens. Especially now with the Bastille Day celebration just over (July 14) in France. When I talk books with other people I mention it as one of the better classics. It's sad, and funny too at times. This is the sort of book I want in a bound sewn together book instead of glued together. If you are in school and have to read a classic I say get this one. If you're sick of the junk that's out there, tired of your computer screen, tired of your endless choices on satellite tv, and want to sink into an oldie, get this one. Once you get into the lingo of the language you just zoom away. A little period music in the background couldn't hurt. "Let Them Eat Cake" was never more distinct although I don't recollect a direct quote from Marie on the matter.
Rating: 
Summary: Dickens' Best Work
Review: An exceptional blend of history, and fiction, A Tale of Two Cities is Dickens at his best. If you give the novel a chance, and see the tale for what it is, a detailed and complex story of the people of the French Revolution, the characters and the plot will pull you in, refusing to release you until the end.
Rating:
Summary: A Literary Masterpiece
Review: This is the best Dickens book ever. It is a masterly plot, he squeezes so much plot and characterization into this fairly short book that it is amazing. Some of his other books are a lot thicker, but this one does just as much, if not more, in much less space.Sure, there are a LOT of details and subplots, and some of them don't have any real relevance to the story (Dickens was paid by the word after all), but if the reader must occasionally strive through subplot after subplot and have to pick out the little bits here and there that pertain to the actualy storyline, then so be it. It's worth it in the end. Speaking of the end, this book has what is possibly the best ending ever. It is at once beautiful, poignant, and poetic. Indeed, the ending is so famous that you will almost certainly know how this book ends before you even start reading it, but the greatness of it will still hit home.
Rating:
Summary: A classic that IS one of Dickens better works
Review: I have repeatedly heard that Tale of Two Cities is regarded as one of Dickens weaker works and contains much less actual content than his other stories.....I disagree. Upon purchasing this book, several years ago, I admittedly procrastinated when approaching it and I wholeheartedly regret that decision ten-fold. It may not be the most exciting read for most people but the literary content overshadows what in may lack in the thrills department. With lines like " It is a far far better thing I do then I have ever done..... and so forth ( I don't want to ruin it for you ), this Dickens novel greatly enriches the mind and gives the reader a great sense of accomplishment and enlightenment at stories end. To avoid this book would be a tragedy. To read this book will be an experience. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: An Eighth Grader reviews A Tale of Two Cities
Review: This book is incredible. I read it last year (in eighth grade), and I love it. I love Charles Dickens' language and style. Whoever is reading this may have little or no respect for my opinions, thinking that I am to young to comprehend the greatness of the plot and language, and I admit that I probably do not completely appreciate this classic piece of literature. I do read above a 12th grade level, although that doesn't count for a whole lot. It took me a while to get into this book. In fact, I dreaded reading it for a long time. But nearer to the end, I was drawn in by the poignant figure of a jackal, Sydney Carton. In his story I became enthralled with this book, especially his pitiful life. After I read and cried at Carton's transformation from an ignoble jackal to the noblest of persons, I was able to look back over the parts of the book that I had not appreciated, and realize how truly awesome they are. I learned to appreciate all of the characters, from Lucy Manette to Madame Defarge. I also was affected by all of the symbolism involved with both the French Revolution, and the nature of sinful man, no matter what the time or place. My pitiful review could never do justice to this great book, please don't be discouraged by my inability.
Rating:
Summary: Would You?
Review: A Tale of Two Cities is a unique story for Dickens in that it doesn't deal with the lives of children in even a superficial manner. His typical story is about childhood or the affects on our adult lives that our childhoods would have. ATOTC is truly a grown up story. It takes place, as the title would suggest, in London and Paris at the time of the French Revolution. Dickens seems to use this setting more for expediency than for making a statement regarding republican government or revolutionary fervor. Dickens was a much more mundane writer than that. Tha main characters are Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay, and Lucie Manette. Sydney and Charles both fall in love with the beautiful Lucie. The ultimate outcome is rather unexpected for a Victorian novel. The protagonist of this story does not come out the winner in any sense of the word. He is not an anti-hero. He just doesn't receive all that he 'deserves' like the typical Victorian hero. ATOTC is mainly a story about sacrifice and the things we would do for those we love. This sounds like a very boring story, but Dickens tale is very in-your-face. Some people say that they would die for the one they loved. But would they really if faced with the knowledge that the person they loved really loved someone else and their death would allow that person to spend the rest of their lives with that someone else. Obviously this is a very simplified version of ATOTC. Besides, Dickens is not Cliff Notes accessible. His is a work that must always be read to be appreciated. ATOTC is not Dickens' best novel, but it is very good.
Rating:
Summary: It was the best of books, it was the worst of books
Review: This is my true introduction to Dickens (yes, I had to read A Christmas Carol ages ago, but I hated it with a passion.) This book was truly well done, and rightfully and lasting classic. The span of characters was vast, and the story well told. One of few criticisms I could find with this book was that I found most of the emotional value of the story fall flat. The only emotional scene that really caught most of its capability to move the read was one of the last.... This is, otherwise, a very entertaining and well done read. Be warned, however, that it WAS written in Victorian England, so if you have difficulty reading older dialects of English you may have some trouble with this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Best and Worst of a Tale of Two Cities
Review: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This is the opening famous line of A Tale of Two Cities. This opening sentence sets up a story of love, life, friendship, and equality for the French citizens. This book had a wonderful story line that brings many people together after setting the reader up to believe they will never find out how these people connect. The stories main character is Dr. Manette, he is the single character that brings all of the others together. Based during the French Revolution, we find out that Dr. Manette was a prisoner of the bastille for 18 years, which later in the story gives him great authority over the French citizens. His daughter, Lucie, is the golden hair girl that catches the heart of all the men she meets. Her devotion to her husband, Charles Darnay, brings her great sadness when he is imprisoned for his secret life of being a French noble. Darnay's family was the one that put Dr. Manette in jail, and took the life of two innocent people, leaving a lonely woman to fend for herself. She is Madame Defarge, who throughout the entire story is trying to get Darnay and his family put to death by the guillotine. After Darnay is sentenced to death only one man can save his life. Sydney Carton, who looks like Darnay, takes his own life so that the love of his life, Lucie, will be happy. He knows that she will never want him so he feels the only thing he can give her is happiness. This book was very enjoyable and exciting. Although it is rather wordy and the beginning seems to be endless and boring. However,during the second half you learn how everything ties together. Every chapter is needed in this book and the time must be taken to read it thourouly to find out the exciting ending. The dramatic ending gives a sense of saddness and relief all at once. Which is why A Tale of Two Cities is a great book. Bringing love, friendship, and the battle for equality during the French Revolution, together suceeds in making this an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Two Cities
Review: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," this is the beginning of the classic of the classic novel A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This novel occurs during the terrible time of the French Revolutionary War, where corruption, bloodshed, and poverty runs rapid. Amongs all of this, love and family develops and struggles to go on. It breaks through sickness and inprisonment to survive and perservere. This classic novel takes place in two countries, England and France. Its starts off in England, when Jarvis Lorry, the perfect business man, meets with Lucy Manette, a beautiful young women, to tell her that her long lost father has been found. Later in the book, a men by the names of Charles Darnay and Syden Carton both fall in love for the same women, Lucy, but Darnay ends up winning. In France, the country is run rapid with corruption and poverty witch starts a bloody revolution. Darnay goes to free a former servant in this bloody mess, and in the procces, gets locked up himself. The end of the novel focuses on the Manettes and Lorry going through trial and tribulation to get Darnay out. A Tale of Two Cities is a well written novel that involves War and Rommance. The characters are very diverse. The character, Madame Defarge, is a very vengeful character that will kill anybody in her path. At one point, she knits the letters that get Darnay in trouble, "The chateau and all the race?". She is also the one that kills a surplus of people with her hatchit at the Storming of the Bastille. On the opposite end, Charles Dickens creates a character like Doctor Manette. He is a very diverse character that goes through spells that make him at one point normal, and at another point, is called "hopeless and lost creature" by the book. Charles Dickens also has a great, complexed plots. For instance, the novel explains and intertwines two characters at the same time. Also, the characters are very complete, each having there own problems. For example, Carleton is depressed about his job and the love of his life. The book is very intericate and well written, but there are couple problems with in it. The biggest problem is the setting of the two places. While the setting goes back and forth from England and France, Dickens does do a very good job at telling the reader, wether they are in England with the Manettes or in France with the Defarges. These problems are rare in the book. Most of the book is a great masterpiece of literature. It is a classic novel with everything including the kitchen sink in it. People of any age, race, or gender would defenitly enjoy reading this novel.
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