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A Tale of Two Cities

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Book Summary

Charles Dickens Biography

Charles Dickens' Career Highlights

About A Tale of Two Cities

Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Chapter

Book the First: Chapter 1: The Period
Book the First: Chapter 2: The Mail
Book the First: Chapter 3: The Night Shadows
Book the First: Chapter 4: The Preparation
Book the First: Chapter 5: The Wine-shop
Book the First: Chapter 6: The Shoemaker
Book the Second: Chapter 1: Five Years Later
Book the Second: Chapter 2: A Sight
Book the Second: Chapter 3: A Disappointment
Book the Second: Chapter 4: Congratulatory
Book the Second: Chapter 5: The Jackal
Book the Second: Chapter 6: Hundreds of People
Book the Second: Chapter 7: Monseigneur in Town
Book the Second: Chapter 8: Monseigneur in the Country
Book the Second: Chapter 9: The Gorgon's Head
Book the Second: Chapter 10: Two Promises
Book the Second: Chapter 11: A Companion Picture
Book the Second: Chapter 12: The Fellow of Delicacy
Book the Second: Chapter 13: The Fellow of No Delicacy
Book the Second: Chapter 14: The Honest Tradesman
Book the Second: Chapter 15: Knitting
Book the Second: Chapter 16: Still Knitting
Book the Second: Chapter 17: One Night
Book the Second: Chapter 18: Nine Days
Book the Second: Chapter 19: An Opinion
Book the Second: Chapter 20: A Plea
Book the Second: Chapter 21: Echoing Footsteps
Book the Second: Chapter 22: The Sea Still Rises
Book the Second: Chapter 23: Fire Rises
Book the Second: Chapter 24: Drawn to the Loadstone Rock
Book the Third: Chapter 1: In Secret
Book the Third: Chapter 2: The Grindstone
Book the Third: Chapter 3: The Shadow
Book the Third: Chapter 4: Calm in Storm
Book the Third: Chapter 5: The Wood-Sawyer
Book the Third: Chapter 6: Triumph
Book the Third: Chapter 7: A Knock at the Door
Book the Third: Chapter 8: A Hand at Cards
Book the Third: Chapter 9: The Game Made
Book the Third: Chapter 10: The Substance of the Shadow
Book the Third: Chapter 11: Dusk
Book the Third: Chapter 12: Darkness
Book the Third: Chapter 13: Fifty-two
Book the Third: Chapter 14: The Knitting Done
Book the Third: Chapter 15: The Footsteps Die Out Forever

Character List

Character Map

Character Analysis

Doctor Alexandre Manette
Lucie Manette, later Darnay
Charles Darnay
Sydney Carton
Therese Defarge
Ernest Defarge
Jerry Cruncher

Critical Essays

Women in A Tale of Two Cities
The French Revolution and A Tale of Two Cities

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Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Chapter

Book the Second: Chapter 4: Congratulatory

"As to me, the greatest desire I have, is to forget that I belong to it. It has no good in it for me — except wine like this — nor I for it. So we are not much alike in that particular. Indeed, I begin to think we are not much alike in any particular, you and I."

Confused by the emotion of the day, and feeling his being there with this Double of coarse deportment, to be like a dream, Charles Darnay was at a loss how to answer; finally, answered not at all.

"Now your dinner is done,"Carton presently said, "why don't you call a health, Mr. Darnay; why don't you give your toast?"

"What health? What toast?"

"Why, it's on the tip of your tongue. It ought to be, it must be, I'll swear it's there."

"Miss Manette, then!"

"Miss Manette, then!"

Looking his companion full in the face while he drank the toast, Carton flung his glass over his shoulder against the wall, where it shivered to pieces; then, rang the bell, and ordered in another.

"That's a fair young lady to hand to a coach in the dark, Mr. Darnay!"he said, ruing his new goblet.

A slight frown and a laconic "Yes,"were the answer.

"That's a fair young lady to be pitied by and wept for by! How does it feel? Is it worth being tried for one's life, to be the object of such sympathy and compassion, Mr. Darnay?"

Again Darnay answered not a word.


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