A review by Amogh Joshi of A Tale of Two Cities

 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities, one of Dickens’ most prominent works, is a historical novel set in the

French Revolution which encompasses the story of multiple characters with multiple

individual goals. Although it has such a large ensemble and is set over multiple settings, it

still manages to play all of the character’s roles very well, exploring character development

hand-in-hand with plot development and subtle themes which all connect in the end.

The supposed ‘main’ plot of the story follows Dr. Alexander Manette, a man recently

released from The Bastille (the main French prison) and him reuniting with his daughter, but

having read it, I felt as though they were simply one part of the larger theme. There is a trial

involving Charles Darnay, another major character with a personal ambition and desire to

achieve them, as well as Sydney Carton, a foil to Darnay and who exhibits extraordinary

character development throughout the novel, in my opinion one of the finest developments I

have ever read. However, this does bring with it its own set of issues, and I felt that the book

at times was, to put it, ‘all over the place’. Although it did firmly set the scene for a chapter

or an event, sometimes there were quick shifts from mini-plotlines and it left me a little bit

confused at times.

The story is set in the times before, during, and after the French Revolution, so Dickens

explores the causes and aftermath of the French Revolution in the novel. It is well

researched, and the attention to detail in every single page is excellent, allowing me to really

immerse myself into the novel and feel as if I was really there, a third-person bystander

watching the situation unfold. Personally, I had to analyze the book for my English class, so

I had a greater appreciation for the subtle themes and symbols throughout the novel, which

although require a bit of thinking about, will become clear as it progresses.

In general, it is a fantastic read. Although, as I mentioned, I had a bit of qualms with the

sometimes-odd plotline, it really is a great read, not just as a casual novel to pick up but

also to explore new styles of reading for some. This being said, the English does get

somewhat complicated at times, so it does require a fair bit of focused reading to truly

grasp what is happening beneath the lines, but the reward of completing this novel is

definitely worth the extra effort. I would definitely recommend it.