A Tale of Two Cities

One of the best books about the French Revolution A Tale of Two Cities was first published in 1859 during Dickens' mature time of writing. Paris and London serve as the two backdrops for this tale of violence oppression hatred and retribution on the one hand and idealism love and self-sacrifice on the other. Inflicting terrible sexual assault on a peasant girl and fatally wounding her brother are the Marquis de St. Evremonde and his brother. When Dr. Manette is called to treat them he spends the next 18 years in the Bastille in order to obstruct his testimony. His freedom is made possible by the fall of the feared jail but he is unwell and becoming insane. He is taken to England to recover and gradually regains his mental faculties. Darnay a nephew of the Marquis who left his family because of their severe customs is now in England. He falls in love with Lucie the doctor's daughter and they are married. He makes a trip to Paris to rescue an old family retainer but is recognised arrested and sentenced to death. Only Sydney Carton an English attorney in trouble who loves Lucie and substitutes himself for Darnay who is being smuggled out of the country can save him from certain death. Carton passes away valiantly and peacefully.