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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

"I think you have been drinking, Mr. Carton."

"Think? You know I have been drinking."

"Since I must say so, I know it."

"Then you shall likewise know why. I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me."

"Much to be regretted. You might have used your talents better."

"May be so, Mr. Darnay; may be not. Don't let your sober face elate you, however; you don't know what it may come to. Good night!"

When he was left alone, this strange being took up a candle, went to a glass that hung against the wall, and surveyed himself minutely in it.

"Do you particularly like the man?"he muttered, at his own image; "why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like; you know that. Ah, confound you! What a change you have made in yourself! A good reason for taking to a man, that he shows you what you have fallen away from, and what you might have been! Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those blue eyes as he was, and commiserated by that agitated face as he was? Come on, and have it out in plain words! You hate the fellow."

He resorted to his pint of wine for consolation, drank it all in a few minutes, and fell asleep on his arms, with his hair straggling over the table, and a long winding-sheet in the candle dripping down upon him.


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