"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."
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H5angela (5 out of 5 stars)