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A Tale of Two Cities Audiobook

A Tale of Two Cities Audiobook, by Charles Dickens Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Simon Vance Publisher: Tantor Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 9.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: April 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781400176366

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

45

Longest Chapter Length:

33:26 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

06:43 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

18:13 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

205

Synopsis

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . we were all going to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period. . . "

So begins one of the best loved novels by one of the most beloved writers of all time. This audiobook, "A Tale of Two Cities," by British author Charles Dickens, begins on a cold, dark evening in 1775. Mr. Jarvis Lorry, a prominent London banker, finds himself with a mission. He must inform the lovely, young Lucie Manette, who is also his ward, that her father, whom she thought long dead, had been found. The next step is to enter politically-torn pre-Revolutionary Paris and bring him home.

Thus is set in motion a story of intrigue, unfaltering devotion to family and a love story that pits two men vying for the hand of one woman, two men so destined by the hands of Fate that t heir lives will be irretrievably changed because of their love for Miss Lucie Manette.

This audiobook is much more than a love story. Set in Paris and London in the years leading up to the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the narrator takes the listener through a series of events leading up to the French Revolution. The excesses of the French aristocracy, the growing discontent of the commoners, the revolutionary spirit of much oppressed people and the horrors of La Guillotine – all are presented in rich detail. The story continues long after the rebellion and the New Republic has taken charge of the government. The Manettes and their loved ones are caught up in the heat of political change, their lives hanging in the balance.

Charles Dickens was a British novelist who lived in Victorian England from 1812 -1870. His writings included over 30 titles, with over 20 being novels. His works were first published in serial form with each installment being highly anticipated by audiences both in England and across the ocean in America.

His works called attention to social issues during the Industrial Revolution, including the harsh lives of impoverished children of his time, often forced to work in appalling conditions. His books helped bring about much-needed child labor laws and social change. He was a master storyteller. His vivid imagination introduced the world to characters ever since known by their names: Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist, Tiny Tim and dozens of others.

Whether you are revisiting books you regard as old friends that you first met in high school, or are reading "A Tale of Two Cities" for a college course, you’ll appreciate the convenience of its being available for easy downloading in audiobook format. Not only can you review the story and its events while commuting, you can listen to it while on your daily walk, while exercising at the gym or as you prepare your evening meal. Classic novels became classics because they have added inestimable value to people’s lives and continue to be assigned by teachers, professors and parents who want to pass down certain values to their own children. These are timeless books that remain in high demand.

"The first time I read this book was last summer, and I was completely lost and confused and it did not speak to me in any way at all until the last couple chapters when I realize what Sydney Carton is doing: he is dying for Charles so Lucie will be forever happy. That managed to leave a favorable impression on me. Well, for English 12 this year, lo and behold, I was miffed that the final book to read was the one and only A Tale of Two Cities. So I resigned myself to what I needed to do, hunkered down with my playlist of favorite classical and movie soundtracks, and read it again. I was astonished. I was absolutely unprepared for the feelings it inspired in me. In short, I related to the book, I enjoyed the book, I understood the characters and their actions, and I felt even more deeply the grandeur of Sydney Carton's final sacrifice. I really got his character this time around. He is one of my favorite literary heroes. I will disregard Dickens' occasional habit of drawing out a boring scene unnecessarily and his propensity to be wordy."

— H5angela (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • Charles Dickens's classic of the French Revolution is expertly dramatized by Simon Vance.

    — AudioFile

A Tale of Two Cities Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.101769911504425 out of 54.101769911504425 out of 54.101769911504425 out of 54.101769911504425 out of 54.101769911504425 out of 5 (4.10)
5 Stars: 115
4 Stars: 57
3 Stars: 32
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 16
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 5 (4.33)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 2
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Ross Honeywill, 11/2/2024
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Colder68, 3/14/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Had to read this book in highschool, 30 years ago. I wanted my kids to hear it, and was glad they liked it. The reader makes a complicated story understandable. Very good performance. "

    — gracefild, 12/29/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One of the best books ever written! "

    — Gerry, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I finally came around to reading this book and really enjoyed it. I had no idea what it was about. Yes, I supposedly studied it in school, but the Clif's Notes did not give me the same feeling as the real text. "

    — Robert, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a wonderful, thought provoking book. It takes quite a bit of effort, as the style of English is unfamiliar and lots of seemingly unimportant details turn out to be significant later. But it is a great story, with all kinds of theological themes woven in. This story will stay with me for a long time, especially Sydney Carton and his unrequited yet redemptive love for Lucie Manette. "

    — Leslie, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I loved this book but I felt like I would have loved it more if I hadn't had to read it for class. Still a great book "

    — Sɑɳɗrɑ☼, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One of the greatest novel of all time. "

    — Pablo, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Found it quite gripping actually. Not read much Dickens, but he grabbed me with this one. "

    — Mark, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Somewhere between initially finding Dicken's style a little presumptively wordy and sobbing my heart out at the end, this grabbed me without me even noticing. The characters are clear and engaging, the context detailed and gritty and the plot compelling. I love a story about redemption and this also had strong elements of love and resurrection as well which I really enjoyed. It gave me a much stronger feel for the realities of the French revolution too. A top notch read. "

    — Kate, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Another great example of weaving disparite threads together. A bit verbose as all Dickens is but that is mostly quality writing and worth braving a bit of excess to experience. Not his best work though, even if some of the Characters like Dr Manette and Citizeness Defarge are vividly brought to life. Probably would be a lesser author's best work. "

    — Jemma, 2/15/2014

About Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children in a family continually plagued by debt. A legacy brought release from the nightmare of debtors’ prison and child labor and afforded him a few years of formal schooling. He worked as an attorney’s clerk and newspaper reporter until his early writings brought him the amazing success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic characters.

About Simon Vance

Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.