A Tale of Two Cities moves between London and Paris through the French Revolution, entwining Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and the dissipated yet redeemable Sydney Carton. Dickens fuses melodrama with the measured architecture of the historical novel, developing motifs of doubling, resurrection, and inexorable "footsteps." This unabridged edition restores Phiz's original plates, whose chiaroscuro and crowd scenes intensify the book's antitheses-justice and vengeance, private sentiment and public tumult-within the 1859 culture of serial print. Composed as Dickens launched All the Year Round, the novel bears the tensile pacing of weekly serials and his exacting editorial control. Long preoccupied with reform and urban spectacle, and steeped in Carlyle's French Revolution, he also drew on the stage pathos of his recent play The Frozen Deep; Carton's self-abnegation retains that theatrical psychology. Scholars and general readers alike will value this edition's ethical clarity and narrative drive. It rewards courses and book clubs for its symmetries, rhetorical music, and political ambivalence, while Phiz's images supply contemporaneous visual cues. A humane, urgent classic, newly vivid in text and image. Quickie Classics summarizes timeless works with precision, preserving the author's voice and keeping the prose clear, fast, and readable-distilled, never diluted. Enriched Edition extras: Introduction · Synopsis · Historical Context · Author Biography · Brief Analysis · 4 Reflection Q&As · Editorial Footnotes.

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Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic who is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era. His work is characterized by its vivid characterizations, intricate plots, and a keen awareness of social issues. Dickens' literary style was pioneering for its use of narrative voices and it was replete with humor, satire, and a moral earnestness. 'A Tale of Two Cities (Unabridged with the original illustrations by Phiz)' is one of Dickens' most famous works, set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. It exemplifies his mastery in exploring themes of resurrection, transformation, and the duality of human nature. The novel is renowned for its opening line, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' and it continues to be celebrated for its rich historical context and dramatic story. Among his other major works are 'Oliver Twist', 'Great Expectations', 'David Copperfield', and 'A Christmas Carol'. These books have not only entertained generations of readers but have also shed light on the societal challenges of Dickens' time. His narratives often highlighted the plight of the poor and underprivileged, influencing the social conscience of his contemporary audience and readers to this day.