In that little book I want to abbreviate and Summarize the story “A tale of two cities” – Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens:

Charles Dickens is one of the most popular writers of all time.

He was born on Portsmouth, England, in 1812 and moved to London with his family when he was about two years old. His family was very poor, and his father could not earn enough to support his wife and eight children.

Because of the family’s situation, he left school at the age of twelve, and it was his mother who taught him to read and helped him develop a deep love of books.

Determined to leave behind the anxieties of his childhood, Dickens started writing for a newspaper. He soon made a name for himself.

He helped and donated for many poor and needy organizations.

Dickens’ personal life was not happy.

He died in 1870.

The story is about two men – one French, one English, they are in love with the same woman.

The men look almost exactly the same. We see how all of them face the dangers in France where the guillotine is always at work.

summary:

“Mr. Jarvis Lorry”, an official of Tellson’s Bank in London, takes Lucie Manette to Paris with him.

He gets information that Lucie’s father Dr. Alexandre Manette is alive. Lucie is in a shock, because her father had disappeared 18 years ago, and now she knows that her father is still alive! She is shaken.

When they reach Paris, they go to Monsieur Defarge’s house, a wine seller. He was Dr. Manette’s servant, and he took care of him.

Mr. Lorry and Lucie are shocked to see Dr. Manette’s position, he lost his memory, and has the face of old man, he was always cobbling shoes. Mr. Lorry and Lucie return to London with Dr.Manette, and they take care of him.

Five years later, a young man named Charles Darnay is accused of helping the King’s enemies. Darnay is a young man of about 25.

Lucie and her father are irresolute witnesses against the accused man, they met him in the ship while they were travelling from Calais. Darnay was kindness and helpfull to them and he helped Dr.Manette while he was sick in the board ship. So that’s why it is hard for Lucie to stand against him, or to do him harm.

There is a number of witnesses who swear that Darnay is a spy, and they give accusations against him.

But here is Sydney Carton, in the courtroom. He is staring at the ceiling and seems to be taking no notice. Mr Stryver points to Carton, everyone in the courtroom is surprised by the likeness with Darnay. The jury realizes that it could be a case of mistaken identity, and Darnay is acquitted.

Years pass, and both Darnay and Carton fall in love with Lucie Manette. Carton is a lawyer who wastes his life in drinking. Lucie has no interest in him, she marries Darnay. He is a French aristocrat, now he lives in London under an assumed name and works as a teacher.

His uncle, the Marquis St. Evremonde, he is a bad man, known for his cruelty. He has lived the life of a profligate and has no respect for human life. Two incidents shows that: he kills a child on the streets and refuses to help a poor widow.

The French Revolution breaks out in all its fury with the storming of the Bastille. In London, Darnay has been married to Lucie for eleven years, and they have a beautiful daughter. Darnay hears that Gabelle, his steward in France, has been arrested, Darnay secretly returns to Paris to save his faithful servant. He is caught and imprisoned. Lucie, her daughter, Dr. Manette, and Mr. Lorry hurry to Paris to save Darnay.

Madame Defarge, however, seeks personal revenge against the Evremonde family,for the cruel Marquis had molested her sister and killed her brother. Because of Madame Defarge, Darnay is re-arrested, and sentenced to death. There is no hope of saving him. Even the lives of Lucie and her daughter are in danger. The Defarges wants to eliminate anyone who has a connection with aristocracy.

The story ends dramatically when Sydney Carton decides to save Darnay’s life by taking his place. He gains entry into the prison, drugs Darnay, and with the help of Mr. Lorry gets him out of danger. The Darnay family flees back to England while Carton sacrifices his life for Darnay, his look-alike. The sacrifice is made to fulfill a promise to Lucie whom he loves. Carton feels noble about his action and knows that he will live in the hearts of the Darnays forever.

Carton’s last words: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

The main character in this story is: Lucie Manette.

Characters:

– The main character in this story is Lucie Manette.

– The time when it happens is in 1775 – 1780 (the French revolution).

– The main problem in the story is when Darnay was arrested for the second tme.

– The problem is fixed by Carton when he took Darnay’s place in the prison.

– My favorite part is when Lucie realizes that her father is alive, finds and meets him.

– It was sad when Carton took Darnay’s place and sacrificed his life for him, and when he said his last influential words.

– My favorite character is Carton, because he prefered to sacrifice his life for others, and he made others happy by making himself sad. I liked the way he acted and I felt sad because of his depressing end.

Quotations in the story by Charles Dickens: 

The end.