What is a Tale of Two Cities About?

Updated: June 09, 2023

A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris and his release to life in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met.

Detailed answer:

Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was first published in 1859 as part of his series of novels known as “The Dickens Universe.” This novel was written during a time when England was still recovering from its industrial revolution; many people were living in poverty because they could not find work or earn enough money to support their families. Dickens wanted to help improve conditions for these people so he wrote about their struggles in his novels, giving them hope for a better future.
The plot takes place against the backdrop of the French Revolution, and it follows some characters as they experience terror and violence during this period in history. The main characters include Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge. The story is about two men who fall in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette, who is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette, a French physician who was imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille prison. Lucie Manette is a lovely young woman who falls in love with Charles Darnay while he’s in prison awaiting execution. She marries him after he’s released from prison once he’s proven innocent of all charges against him! The book follows their lives as they struggle to find happiness amidst war and revolution.