The historical novel "A Tale of Two Cities", by Charles Dickens: a summary

Charles Dickens - the most famous in our country English novelist of the XIX century. One of the most interesting historical works of the writer was the novel "A Tale of Two Cities". This article will be devoted to this art creation. We will consider a brief summary of the novel, and also present a small analysis.

About the book

The first edition of the novel was held in 1859. It describes the events of the French Revolution. Very soon the novel became the bestseller of its time and the most popular work of the writer.

The idea of the novel to Dickens was suggested by W. Collins, where he told a story about a young man who sacrificed himself for his beloved and her chosen man. Gradually, this plot was superimposed on the thoughts of the French Revolution, which the writer drew from reading historical books.

Summary

The work of the novel "The Tale of Two Cities" is developed in the 18th century. A senior bank employee travels with a mission to France. He has to inform Lucy Monette, the daughter of the client of the bank, that her father, who is considered to be dead, is alive.

Dr. Mannet spent eighteen years in the Bastille. And all these years his family did not hear anything about him. Lucy was absolutely sure that her father had been dead for a long time. The news brought by the employee struck her. The girl decides to go for her father.

Dr. Manette was in a state of intense emotional distress and does not understand that he was given freedom. After the release of the former prisoner, his old servant sheltered. Lucy takes Manette, and they go to England. Gradually, the girl manages to return his father's sanity. Dr. Manette perfectly remembers that he suffered terrible torments, but now all his trials are over.

Five years later

The events of the novel The Tale of Two Cities continue five years after the doctor returned. The Manett family has to participate in court proceedings. Charged with high treason, Charles Darnay is a friend of the Manettas. Heroes have to resort to the help of lawyer Cardona, thanks to the efforts of which Derney was fully acquitted and released from prison. While the process was going on, Lucy and Charles got closer and realized that they had fallen in love. Soon the wedding followed.

Charles lives in England. He is hiding under a false name, since he has an aristocratic French origin. Now Charles tries in every possible way to hide it. For this, he even renounces the inheritance. The fact is that the French race, from which it originates, has been famous since ancient times for its cruel attitude towards the common people. His uncle-marquis had already suffered from patriots, future revolutionaries who had killed him. They sentenced the whole family of Charles to destruction.

Dr. Manette accidentally learns that the marquis is accounted for by Uncle Charles. This leads to the fact that he has a new blow. It turns out that it was the marquis who was to blame for the fact that Dr. Manette was in the Bastille.

The beginning of revolution

"The Tale of Two Cities" is primarily a historical novel, so Dickens describes in detail the beginning of the French Revolution. Power captures the people. A real chaos begins in the country, the king is captured by revolutionaries, aristocrats flee, old laws are abolished and new ones are proclaimed. A new life is built on the violence and destruction of those who for centuries oppressed the common people.

Charles knows the situation in his country and the danger that his family found themselves. After thinking everything over, he decides to go to Paris to save his manager from imminent death.

The historical novel by Charles Dickens describes the return of the French aristocrat to his homeland when the revolution rages there. Darney is immediately arrested and imprisoned as a representative of the bourgeoisie. Then Charles's family comes to Paris, hoping to save him from reprisals.

Dr. Manette unexpectedly found himself in high esteem with the revolutionaries because of his prison past. This helped him to launch a stormy activity and set up many in favor of Darney.

Two years the lawsuit continues. Finally, Charles was found not guilty and released to freedom. However, on the same day he is again arrested. Three faces were reported to him: the old servant Manette, who had sheltered his master after his return from prison, his vindictive wife and some unknown person.

New court

The book "A Tale of Two Cities" continues to describe events. Charles is again in the dock. It turns out that the third unknown, who reported to Darnay, is Lucy's father. It turned out that after the storming of the Bastille, the old servant entered the prison, found his former master's chamber and searched it. As a result, Dr. Manette's diary fell into his hands. Among other things, it described the desecration of his uncle and father Charles over a peasant family - a pregnant woman was raped, her husband was tortured to death, the poor woman's brother was seriously wounded, and her sister was missing.

Manette, as a doctor, was once invited to the marquise to follow the health of a raped woman and her brother. In the process of inspection, the peasants described the excesses that the gentlemen had created over them. Then Manette decided to report to the entire minister, but his report did not reach. And soon the doctor himself was in the Bastille. In his diary Manet cursed the whole family of the Marquis. When these terms were read in the courtroom, it became clear that Charles would not be saved - he was unanimously found guilty and sentenced to death.

The rescue

The climax of the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" is coming. Charles is preparing for death. Manette can not help him, which causes a new attack of unconsciousness in the old doctor. But here on the scene appears lawyer Carton. He has long been in love with Lucy and is ready to do anything for her and her family, without demanding anything in return.

Cardboard manages to save Charles. Taking advantage of the fact that he looks similar to Darney, the lawyer changes places with him in prison, which allows Charles to flee. Thanks to this self-sacrificing act, Darney with the Manett family safely leaves France. And Carton is executed instead of Charles.

Decoupling

The "Tale of Two Cities" is coming to an end, the summary of which we set out. It becomes clear why the wife of the old servant decided to report to Charles - she was the sister of the same peasant woman, who suffered at the hands of her father and uncle Darney. Now she is obsessed with only one desire - to exterminate the whole family of offenders of her sister. However, all her plans were destroyed: when she learned about everything Lucy's teacher, she killed the mistress of the mistress.

The historical novel ends with a description of the outcome of the French Revolution. On the guillotine now turn out to be revolutionaries themselves, who not so long ago executed on it unwanted. As for Charles and Lucy, they had a child, whom they named after Carton. And the story of the heroic deed of the lawyer was decided to be passed on to the descendants.

Analysis

In English-speaking countries the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" became a textbook for a long time. Charles Dickens, in his characteristic manner, could not simply tell a fascinating love story against the backdrop of the unfolding revolution, but also depict the most diverse social classes. The work covers the whole era, there are descriptions of both peasants and aristocrats.

The heroes of the writer face a difficult moral choice. They are guided by both religious motives and their own benefit. However, the writer himself is sure that a worthy person will willingly sacrifice himself for the sake of people who are dear to him.

Perhaps, that is why the "Tale of Two Cities" is still popular today. Readers' comments on the work are mostly positive. Many are admired by Dickens's ability to portray historical events, although the beginning seems a bit prolonged. Others mark the art with which the characters are depicted. In addition, the historical atmosphere created by the writer also admires.