Summary of A Tale of Two Cities

Written by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities is set in 1775 and tells the story of a dysfunctional family caught in the throes of the French Revolution. The story follows a young lawyer, Sydney Carton, who, out of love for his childhood friend Lucie Manette, sacrifices his own life so that she and her husband Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, may be together. By risking his life, Sydney Carton enables the couple to escape the madness of the Revolution, at least temporarily, and finds his own redemption in death. The novel is famous for its opening line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” reflecting the chaotic, turbulent atmosphere of the era in which it was set. Rich in history, romance, and adventure, A Tale of Two Cities is a timeless classic about redemption, love, and the power of self-sacrifice.