Wednesday, June 24, 2009

#29 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The French Revolution wasn’t televised, but was broadcast via The Novel. This classic puts a face on one of the bloodiest moments in history.  It is the face of Charles Darnay, a nobleman who rejects the aristocracy and immigrates to London.  He goes back to Paris during the uprising to help a friend who has been arrested.  This proves fatal, when he’s identified as an Evrémonde, a family known for cruelty towards the peasantry.  It is also the face of Syndey Carton, who bears a striking resemblance to Darnay.  Carton, a troubled cynic, does “a far, far better thing” than he has ever done and finds peace amidst chaos and death.  

 



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