Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)

Book Description

Includes the major works by one of the greatest names in literature. Namely, Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities. This Library of Literary Classics edition is bound in padded leather with luxurious gold-stamping on the front and spine, satin ribbon marker and gilded edges. Other titles in this Library of Literary Classics series include: Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels; Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; Mark Twain: Selected Works; Jane Austen: The Complete Novels: Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works; and William Shakespeare: The Complete Works.

Customer Reviews:

Great value for the price.......2007-08-02

Let's face it, there are better editions of Dickens out there. You get what you pay for. This is not a top of the line leather edition. For the price, though, you can't beat it. It is what it is, a reasonably priced leather edition of four of his novels. At five dollars apiece, the price can not be beat.

Pretentious.......2007-06-07

Buying books because they look good on your shelf is pretentious and phony - and this book capitalizes on that. I got this as a gift and was amazed when I read it at the number of typos in it. There is simply no way this collection was proofed by an editor - that or the editing company is one of the worst in the world.

Buy these fantastic books, but not this edition, unless you just want people to think you read Dickens.

If nothing else, it looks good on your bookshelf........2007-03-13

You would do better off buying these books individually from a different publisher.
It sounds impressive, leather bound, gilded edges, but it is very cheaply done. On the plus side, it does have a ribbon book mark so you don't have to buy your own.
But this book was poorly edited, filled with needless typos, and with all four of these books available from numerous other publishers, I would suggest to just buy it from them.

Loved it,.......2006-02-12

I'm a big fan of long drawn out novles. I've always been a fan of Dickens. This book has on eof my favorite stories by his pen: Great Expectations. His style is very personal I found it a lot like Tolkien. His ability to tell a good tale is clear as the reader becomes part of the story. Very nice volume and worth the time and money in my opinion.

Lousy Binding.......2005-12-20

I've read all but "A Christmas Carol" in this edition. I've found several typos. Moreover, the binding is becoming unglued. I estimate by the time I finish "A Christmas Carol" the binding will be totally exposed. I value permanent books (otherwise I would buy paperbacks). I suggest anyone who enjoys Dickens buy a better edition.

Average customer rating:

Great ending to what otherwise I found stale
"He is Recalled to Life..."
The Political Intrigue of Dickens
A Masterpiece Novel Set Before The French Revolution
Much to Offer

A Tale of Two Cities (Penguin Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141439602
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Book Description

Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Richard Maxwell.

Customer Reviews:

Great ending to what otherwise I found stale.......2007-07-21

It always takes me a while before I really get interested in any story. Unfortunately this story took until almost the end before it really grabbed me. It may not be that bad for you, but I found some of the sentences extremely long. After reading David Copperfield I'm put off by his diction or older cliches, as long as the story is compelling. Many of his descriptive narratives were just too long and drawn out. I think there might have been some clever metaphors that I was just to lazy to think about; or as an excuse I don't know that much about that time in history. The end was full of action and suspense, I don't know if it was more disappointing that the story ended or that the first five-sixths of the book was flat. I hope your experience will be better than mine.

"He is Recalled to Life...".......2007-07-09

Everyone knows the opening line of this novel: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," but have you ever stopped to think about what it actually means? Putting a context on famous lines of literature is (for me at least) one of the best parts about reading classic novels, something that everyone should attempt to do at some stage during their lifetimes. "A Tale of Two Cities" definitely falls into that category, as it contains some of Dickens's best and most complex work. The title stems from the fact that it is London and Paris - rather than any individual character - which make up the central character of the novel, and the way in which these two cities guide the fates of their inhabitants.

This is certainly one of Charles Dickens's more unique novels, being one of only two of his works (the other being Barnaby Rudge (Penguin Classics)) that is best described as historical fiction. Incorporating events of the French Revolution such as the storming of the Bastille, the September massacres and the infamous Revolutionary tribunals that sent thousands to their deaths at the gulliotine, the novel is set against a wide sweep of history that provides the context for the intrigues of his characters. As Dickens himself articulated, characters are not as developed as they are in his other works, and are revealed through action rather than dialogue or exposition. Thus, "A Tale of Two Cities" is far from a character study, though Dickens provides several vivid scenes that give us insight into the players, whether it be the monotonous shoe-making of Doctor Manette, the lethargic leaning of Sydney Carton or the frantic knitting of Madame Defarge.

Pulling together a complex story of betrayal, intrigue, danger, hidden identities and past secrets, Dickens weaves his three protagonists (insofar as you could say this novel *has* protagonists) into a complicated tale set against the dangers of the French Revolution: Doctor Manette, a freed prisoner of the old aristocratic regime, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat who has denounced his heritage, and Sydney Carton, a brilliant English lawyer with a wastrel lifestyle (who is also the most vivid character in the novel). Each man becomes swept up in the events of the Revolution, each facing their inner demons and the secrets of the past that rise up to threaten their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

As is to be expected, at the centre of this maelstrom is a young woman, with whom all males are besotted. She is a typical Dickensian heroine: meek, virtuous, beautiful, tearful, and the object of everyone's dearest affections. As someone who has read several Dickens books, she is a somewhat frustrating character - is there really a difference between Lucie Manette and say, Rose of Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics) or Agnes of David Copperfield (Penguin Classics) or Biddy of Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)? Lucie is the paragon of Victorian expectations in a woman, the domestic goddess, the angel of the house, the damsel in distress (in fact, the most memorable aspect to her character is Dickens's mention of her talent at arranging furniture. I'm not kidding). Yes, she is a product of the time, and no doubt a reflection of Dickens's own longings (considering his own domestic lifestyle was far from ideal), but you can't help but wish that Dickens had taken the time to explain why Lucie had such an extraordinary effect on the men around her, rather than just tell us that such a thing was so.

Despite this, Dickens has a tightly plotted novel, which gradually reveals the intricate connections between each character as the story progresses. By any other author, these connections would seem melodramatic or too coincidental, in Dickens's hands, they take on the sense of an inevitable pattern taking shape, almost a fateful air. Juggling the intimate details of the inner turmoil relationships of the characters with the grander scale of the political upheaval, Dickens strikes the perfect balance between the two, personified in the cities themselves. London becomes the place of peace and security, but also dignified secrecy and disclosure (as Dickens famously ponders in the opening chapters, pointing out that we - as human beings - are all mysteries to each other), whereas Paris is swept up in violence, blood-lust and a witch hunt for enemies of the new order. Yet as Richard Maxwell points out in his enlightening introduction to this edition, the two cities exist together in the course of the novel - without Paris, Carton's melancholic and wasteful life was in vain; without London, there is no safe haven for the Darnay family to flee to.

Dickens also has room for his own commentary on the Revolution, and is careful in his portrayal of those involved, making none of them totally evil, nor completely virtueous. Everyone involved is painted in shades of grey, making the Revolution itself a complicated process of upheaval, cruelty, justice, madness, victory and tragedy. Just as the revolt of the people is perceived as justified against the tyranny of the aristocracy that abuses their position so appallingly, the madness that follows becomes just as horrifying as the rule of that which preceded it. As it stands, Dickens ends the novel by alluding to the execution of Madame Roland, who was said to have cried out just before her death: "O Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name!" This is one of my favourite Dickens's novels, and leaves you with plenty to mull over long after you've finished reading.

The Political Intrigue of Dickens.......2007-07-03

** This review is a synthesis of the three Charles Dickens books that I've read: A Tale of Two Cities (Penguin Classics), Great Expectations (Penguin Classics), and David Copperfield (Penguin Classics). The rationale for reviewing in this manner is to provide a foundation point of reference for those not new to Dickens' work.

In the last two years I have read, in this order, Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield. All three of these books were exceptional reads, and if you are thinking about dipping your toes in the waters of Charles Dickens you can't go wrong with any of them. However, notwithstanding the fact that these three books are all in the upper echelon of world literature, I have no difficulty in distinguishing between them and coming to the conclusion that they are properly ordered, from "most best" to "least best": David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations.

It seems generally to be the case that, for those who have read just one of Dickens' books, Great Expectations is the book most people have been exposed to. And most people who read Great Expectations love it. The genre is probably best described as romance meshed with individual tragedy among numerous characters. However, perhaps the strongest part of the book is the manner in which the secondary characters present a contrast to the primary story. I liked the book very much, but I think it suffers from two flaws not present in the other works reviewed here. First, the characters are not as believable as in the other two works. Second, the plot follows an unlikely path, especially in the end. Concerning this second point, it should be noted that Dickens struggled with the ending of this work, and I think it shows.

Tale of Two Cities ranks second in this group in my mind. This book is a combination of political intrigue, romance, and personal triumph. I rank this book above Great Expectations for the sole reason that the characters in this book are so strongly developed. I don't think I have been exposed to more memorable characters in any book I've ever read. The story is interesting, too, because it takes place against the backdrop of a historical event, the French Revolution. I think Dickens had an easier time writing a convincing plot in this story than in Great Expectations because he had the aid of a real historical event.

Great Expectations and Tale of Two Cities are both excellent books, but David Copperfield is simply the best piece of literature I've ever read. To be sure, I'm only 24 and have only read 10 pieces of classic literature since my high school years. However, David Copperfield so outdid anything I've read that I feel more than comfortable in recommending it as certainly one of the best books of all time. Dickens did a remarkable job of capturing a wide variety of human emotions and mindsets. He was aided in this by two things. First, the length of the book gave him space to fully develop his sentiments. Second, the book is written in a first-person autobiographical voice, which I think made capturing sentiments much easier than in attempting to narrate them in the third-person. Further, because the book chronicles David's life from childhood through middle-age the reader is exposed to a wide variety of human thoughts. The characters, for the most part, are more believable and the plot is generally good; I took offense to only one chapter in the whole book.

Now, if you haven't read any of Dickens' books, I don't recommend starting with David Copperfield. I would start with Great Expectations and work through a couple others before David Copperfield. In terms of the plots, David Copperfield is much more similar to Great Expectations than Tale of Two Cities. So if you loved Great Expectations I think you will be well satisfied with David Copperfield. The plot from Tale of Two Cities is the odd-ball of this trio. In any case, all three of these books are great pieces of literature... enjoy.

A Masterpiece Novel Set Before The French Revolution.......2007-07-01

Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812 to 1870, is the best know male English writer of the 19th century. He authored 22 novels plus numerous short pieces. Most of his writing was first written in serialized form, later published as single novels.

A young Dickens at the age of 12 had the unenviable job of attaching labels 10 hours a day at the Warren's boot blacking factory. That experience shaped much of his writing career. Still in his teens he became a law clerk, then later in his twenties a journalist. The last job as a reporter led to the serialized writing of his novels. His works were social commentaries with larger than life characters, or colorful caricatures, living in the slums of London. He was a critic of poverty, social injustice, and the slow moving court system.

Those themes permeate most of his novels. A few novels are different, including the present A Tale of Two Cities, written towards the end of his writing career. This is a historical novel set in England and France during the years leading up to the French Revolution, starting around the year 1775. At first glance it appears less complicated than his other works, but on closer inspection one will find that the novel is relatively complicated. It is a three part story with time shifting and with many characters, and with lots of intrigue and drama.

Without giving away critical plot elements - and it is a complicated plot which most will have trouble remembering anyway - the story opens in England as a bank representative, Lorry, travels to Dover to meet a young woman, Lucie Manette. They proceed to Saint Antoine near Paris in search of Lucie's father, Dr. Manette, who was in prison, but who has now been released. During the incarceration, he has lost his mind.

Action then shifts back to England, five years later, to the trial of Chalres Darnay for spying. Lucie and her father testify at the trial. Darnay is acquitted and released. In Paris, Darnay's uncle, the Marquis, is involved in a street accident and other plot elements. Back in England, Darnay marries Lucie. Then, Darnay returns to Paris to help a friend of the Marquis and is imprisoned as an emigrant or aristocrat. The rest of the novel involves the return to Paris of Lucie, her father, and Lorry, and their struggle to get Darnay released. Will they be able to free him from prison or will he be executed?

Beyond the intrigue and drama, the novel is a vehicle for Dickens to describe the horrors of the French Revolution in a serial form, later made into a novel.

I enjoyed the read and would recommend the book.

Much to Offer.......2007-04-02

A Tale of Two cities is a vivid story of the French Revolution filled with imagery and motifs that are thick in the literature. So many stories collide in as the numerous characters are all connected some way, some how. There's a dramatic love triangle, a revenge story, a recovery from an eighteen year imprisonment and much more.

Charles Dickens writes as someone from his day would, filled with commas and metaphors. For children under thirteen this might be inappropriate, not because of content, but because they might not understand it enough to appreciate all it has to offer. It shows the immoral side of humanity, even though revenge isn't the only purpose. The aristocrats were mercilessly taken from there homes and to La Guillotine.

Motifs such as The Sea, Redemption, Secret Sins, Letters, and many others reinforce what is trying to be demonstrated. They are occurring events or ideas that keep the book interesting. So many of these characters come to their doom and it the affects the reader just as it would if you were actually watching it. Dramatic foreshadowing is also very affecting, but the actual events are even more thrilling.

Overall, I recommend this book to all willing to read, it's a wonderful book to enhance your literary vocabulary. It has tastes for men with its brutal wars and battles, but also has a sense of feminism as the love story will interests the women.

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The most unforgettable opening and closing sentences ever found in a book!
A Good Review
A Story Like No Other
Classic Story of Love and Redemption!
An amazing tale

A Tale of Two Cities (Bantam Classic)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Bantam Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553211765
Release Date: 1989-05-01

Book Description

With his sublime parting words, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done..." Sidney Carton joins that exhalted group of Dickensian characters who have earned a permanent place in the popular literary imagination. His dramatic story, set against the volcanic fury of the French Revolution and pervaded by the ominous rumble of the death carts trundling toward the guillotine, is the heart-stirring tale of a heroic soul in an age gone mad. A masterful pageant of idealism, love, and adventure -- in a Paris bursting with revolutionary frenzy, and a London alive with anxious anticipation -- A Tale of Two Cities is one of Dickens's most energetic and exciting works.

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Dicken's classic novel of The French Revolution. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"

Customer Reviews:

The most unforgettable opening and closing sentences ever found in a book!.......2007-07-14

I will never, the rest of my life forget these two sentences. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...." and at closing "It is a far, far, better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."

Wow, this is not your usual Dickens. No quirky characters with strange names and laugh out loud moments, just a darn good story -- the story of two cities, London and Paris. It is difficult to put the plot into words, but when the book begins you are in London at the time of the American revolution and spies (or suspected spies) abound, and the story eventually switches to France prior to and during the French revolution.

Dickens does a marvelous job (as always) of building his story one step at a time and slowly peeling back the layers one at a time. This is not a put down and pick it up a week later kind of a book, it is very intense and complicated and you have to pay close attention. I was just floored at how he sucked me in with his descriptions of the mobs, terror and the madness of the revolution leading you to a nail biting finish. I admit to holding my breath during those last few pages!

Highly recommended, and well worth the time to discover (or rediscover) an old classic.

A Good Review.......2007-05-17

I think this book was great! In the beginning of this book some of the words are French or English, which makes them a little hard to read, but once you get past that it turns into an amazing book. This book is about a daughter who saves her father from insanity and brings him home to England. Years after that day the daughter is married and her husband is asked to come to France (the French Revolution is taking place), but once he gets there he is put on death trial because of his fathers' crimes. In the end of the book the husband is saved and they all go back to England.

A Story Like No Other.......2007-04-02

Classic Story of Love and Redemption!.......2007-02-19

This is easily my second favorite classic novel. Saturated with adventure, love, passion, and redemption, Dickens expertly and eloquently details the lives of many characters all woven together by the golden threads of love during the tumultuous and dangerous French Revolution. A must read!

An amazing tale.......2007-01-07

To begin, this is the first Dickens novel I have ever read. As a student of history and political science, most of my reading projects involve works of nonfiction. I must admit that I am not well versed in classic literature--a fact that I am ashamed of whenever I watch jeopardy or converse with literature fans. This past year I made a concerted effort to acquaint myself with some of the classic masterpieces. As a social studies major, "A Tale of Two Cities" was an excellent choice to begin my foray into classic literature.
Charles Dickens is a master storyteller. How someone can contrive such an intricate and compelling tale is beyond my comprehension. Dickens's imaginative skills should be respected and envied by all writers. "A Tale of Two Cities" takes place during the French Revolution. It is a story about love, revenge, and sacrifice. Dickens portrays the madness and brutality of the French Revolution in vivid and skillful fashion.

This is a must read for anyone interested in literature and/or history. I can see how Dickens is not for everyone, however. The reader must have a good vocabulary to fully understand his writing. Knowledge of 18th century European history is an added advantage and will help the reader to better comprehend the situation and setting. If those prerequisites are met, the reader is sure to be moved by this masterpiece.

A Tale of Two Cities (Enriched Classics)

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A Tale Reborn
A Tale of Two Cities paints a beautiful while dark story of the French Revolution

A Tale of Two Cities (Enriched Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743487605

Book Description

ENDURING LITERATURE ILLUMINATED

BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP

Dickens's epic novel of freedom, love, and the burning chaos of the French Revolution.

EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES:

• A concise introduction that gives readers important background information

• A chronology of the author's life and work

• A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context

• An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations

• Detailed explanatory notes

• Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work

• Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction

• A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

SERIES EDITED BY CYNTHIA BRANTLEY JOHNSON

Customer Reviews:

A Tale Reborn.......2006-04-12

By the year 2006, can Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities still hold relevance? The answer is a simple yes. It is a great tale of how love, revolution, and chaos can all fall into place at the same moment. But the most interesting topic that he addresses is the theme of rebirth or revolution. This rebirth is not only that of France, but of Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton. All of them are changed by the events happening during the time of the novel. They reshape their ideals, reintroduce themselves into the world, reinvent themselves, and revitalize their spirits. That is way resurrection is the most noticeable subject in this novel.
France is about to undergo the bloodiest revolutions that Europe has ever seen. The peasants of France revolt in hopes creating a government that will take care of their needs. They have little food and the food that they do have is rotten. Dickens does an absolutely amazing job of describing the peasants' awful situation. However, he only depicts the tragic peasants with only a negative depiction of the aristocrats. A great example of this is the way in which he descries Monseigneur's massive house and he's chocolate eating, "Monseigneur, on of the great lords...he must have died of two. (122-123)" This is a very critical view of a man with power because it never shows another side to him. This implies that he is always greedy and only looks after himself. Another bias view of the wealthy is seen in Marquis. Who is shown as a selfish, non-sympathetic man who gets what he deserves, death. "It is extraordinary... The horses there: are they right? (129-130)" With no positive view of an aristocrat, it is impossible to make a fair judgment about the rich, or the poor. Dickens goal is to justify a revolution based on poor character of the rich ruling class. He succeeds in doing so at the cost of the aristocrats of France.
The most obvious character to undergo change is Dr. Manette. As the very first chapters show, he is "recalled to life. (14)" in the course of the novel. In the literal since, he is taken out of a wrongful imprisonment of 18 years with no contact with the outside world. But on a much deeper level however, the book focuses on how he comes back into the world. He transforms from a weak, feeble shoemaker to a strong character that's able to control crowds and lead them towards the greater-good. The only fault in this complete change is that he does occasionally go back to his old ways in making shoes when he becomes depressed. But these episodes are too brief to change the fact that Manette has a complete turn around from who he is at the beginning of the novel to the end.
Charles Darnay also exemplifies a person who recreates himself in order to use the second chances he gets in life. Born into wealth, he sees the maltreatment that the rich shows towards the poor. That is why he revokes his power and rights in order to live a regular life. But after he is nearly sent to jail in England he reinvents himself as a lover as he falls in love with Lucie. However when the opportunity comes for him to save the day, he puts on his hero cape and goes back to France. Again he is arrested, but this time his life is in jeopardy has he faces the gallows. And only help from Carton is he saved from the clutches of death.
Sydney Carton is the most interesting characters in the novel because of the drastic changes that he undergoes. Dickens shows Carton as a worthless drunk with no future "Sydney Carton, idlest... that humble capacity (102)". As time goes on, he falls in love with Lucie but doesn't allow his feelings to interfere with her life. That is until Darnay's life is in danger. Carton gives up his life in place of Darnay. This clearly shows that he makes a major change in his character. This change happens because he wants to make up for the wasted life that he has lived by sacrificing himself to save another. This brings about a sense of peace in him that he has never felt "It is a far... I have ever known (443)"
With so much change and unstableness going on in the novel, it is easy to understand why the country and the fore mentioned characters of Manette, Darnay, and Carton undergo such dynamic shifts in their personas. France has its revolutions, Manette is recalled to life, Darnay is reborn twice, and Carton is resurrected as a hero and martyr. That kind of writing leads me to the conclusion that life is all about second chances and renewal. This was Dickens' purpose in writing a novel like this, and that is why A Tale of Two Cities is a book that stands out amongst the greatest literary pieces of all time.

A Tale of Two Cities paints a beautiful while dark story of the French Revolution .......2006-04-11

A Tale of Two Cities paints a beautiful while dark story of the French Revolution and how it affects an English family. It is, by all standards, a classic. Yet, if you decide to read it and are younger than a high school senior, I suggest reading it with a good dictionary by your side. It is written in the English of over one-hundred years ago and so I would also recommend a version that includes notes on what certain phrases mean as well as a guide to the allusions used in the story. I am not recommending the abridged version, though. Reading it as it was written gives a much different experience that seems more genuine. The copy of the novel that I read was published by Pocket Books and includes explanatory notes and more which I found very helpful.
As I read I saw examples where Dickens (the author), implied satirical messages and themes relevant to the time when the book was written. Then, the situation in England resembled pre-Revolution France. Also, 1848, was known as the "Year of Revolutions". He may have been trying to discourage revolution and encourage solutions through political change, not violence. Dickens also implied, through his words, that a revolution could happen anywhere, even in England. He encouraged his message frequently but it never got old and wasn't monotonous. By using a variety of different situations, Dickens kept his message in the reader's mind. For example, at a burial of a spy in England, a mob forms and turns the burial into show of irreverent mourning and violence. He is implying that under the right conditions any group of people can turn into a violent mob. He also writes that history will repeat itself under the same circumstances. This message would have been very pertinent at the time. These messages about the state and flaws of society were frequent but were well integrated into the story. Many were fun to read due to Dickens' good use of satire and humor.
One complaint that many historians, literary critics, and others have had about A Tale of Two Cities is that the characters and depiction of the social classes are too unrealistic. I, too, thought that some of the characters were somewhat unrealistic, yet I don't believe that Dickens made them that way without reason. One example is in a moment with a member the French aristocracy. While riding at breakneck speed through downtown Paris, this noble's carriage hits and kills a child. In response, he turns to the grieving father and coolly tosses him a gold piece and drives off. I saw this action as very unrealistic, but this isn't supposed to be literal. This noble's action is part of his characterization that is just supposed to show that he is very cold. It is also supposed to symbolize the oppression of the peasants by the aristocracy. The lower class had been oppressed for so long and Dickens sums up their oppression through this one noble's action. Still, some of the characters' actions are unrealistic. After a condemned man is read his condemning sentence, he is perfectly composed and shows no signs of anxiety or emotion but love for his wife. There is no way that any human could be unafraid after that. Despite some unrealistic moments in Dickens characters, his description of the classes and their struggles is excellent. This is probably because of his experience. As a boy, Dickens was a peasant, which explains why his descriptions of peasant life and their strife are so detailed. I personally found Dickens' characters very appealing and his description of French society very enthralling.
If you are unsure if you want to read this book, my advice to you would be: definitely read it. Dickens creates a capturing world with a deep plot, exquisite use of imagery, and striking characters, all in one of the most exciting times in history. Pick it up and you won't regret it.

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A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786180390

Book Description

This captivating tale, set in London and Paris at the time of the French Revolution, reveals the central choice confronting every society and each individual: Should a person work to change society or should the revolution occur within his heart?

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Highly Recommend for Younger Readers
A Tale of Two Cities
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Cliffsnotes Dickens a Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities (Cliffs Notes)
Marie Kalil
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764586068

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

In CliffsNotes on A Tale of Two Cities, you experience one of Charles Dickens's most important works as he recounts the horrors of the French Revolution in what amounts to a cautionary tale warning of the possibility of revolution in 18th-century England. From its first line ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times") to its last ("It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known"), Dickens's novel of revolution, sacrifice, and redemption continues to captivate modern imaginations.

Chapter summaries and commentaries lead you through Dickens's "Tale," and critical essays give you insight into the women of A Tale of Two Cities and the French Revolution. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of the main characters
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
A section on the life and background of Charles Dickens
A review section that tests your knowledge
A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Customer Reviews:

Very Helpful.......2007-03-27

I have found reason to use Cliff Notes at various times in the past years. They are always helpful. They provide background information about the author, the times he lived in and a brief overview of the book. Then they break down the book chapter by chapter and explain what is happening in each chapter to the characters. Difficult language is defined. Difficult concepts are expounded upon.

What they do not do is give you the answers for a test or explain everything so clearly that you won't have to read the book. These are a help to understanding the book.

This one on A Tale of two Cities was very complete and very helpful.

Highly Recommend for Younger Readers.......2006-08-27

I purchased these cliff notes for my son who was reading this book as a school assignment. The names, terms, society, everything in Dickens' book are just too different from modern American society for a young person to comprehend very well, let alone be 'tested' on. He read both the book and the cliff notes and needed both to really understand what was going on and the point of many of the passages.

A Tale of Two Cities.......2003-08-24

I indeed read the book, but the notes helped me understand it a lot better.

A really helpful book.......2003-07-20

This book helped me a lot i like to read and all but A Tale of Two Cities is a little to detailed and i kind of understood the book but this book helped me understand it completely i recommend this book to anyone that does not fully understand A Tale of Two Cities.

Cliffsnotes Dickens a Tale of Two Cities.......2002-03-08

Well I must say that I'm not a big fan of reading, but wow these notes make it a brezze. If you are lazy and have know time to re-read that well, buy the notes..I got them [online]and they have helped me [tremendously! BUY THE NOTES!!! I'm only 15 and well Dickens [is a drag] so buy the notes!!! lol

Tale of Two Cities: Mormons vs. Catholics

Average customer rating:

As fair as possible
Great book for a Catholic trying to relate to a Mormon
Fair and Informative without Polemics!

Tale of Two Cities: Mormons vs. Catholics
William Taylor
Manufacturer: Little Red Hen, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0933046022

Book Description

A comparison between the Catholics and the Mormons. One God as opposed to many gods. Jesus our Lord and our God as different from Jesus, the product of a sexual union between the god, Elohim and Mary. A look at the martyr-priest Maxamillian Kolb who meekly offers his life in place of another man as compared to the "martyr" Joseph Smith who dies with guns blazing. Second printing of a book with over 100,000 copies sold.

Customer Reviews:

As fair as possible.......2006-07-26

I am a Catholic convert (from the Episcopal church) who was born and raised in Idaho and I therefore have many longtime and newer LDS friends. Perhaps they would disagree with my assessment, but I think this book and the Ostlings' "Mormon America" are fair and charitably written. This book is particularly good for Catholics trying to understand the LDS faith. It's a short book but packed with information -- not a quick read. At least it wasn't for me!

Great book for a Catholic trying to relate to a Mormon.......2004-02-12

While volunteering in Alaska for a year, I fell in love with a Mormon woman. As a Catholic, I thought that we could come to a common ground in our faiths and maybe even marry someday. A friend found out I was dating a Mormon and gave me Fr. Taylor's book. After reading it and other books on Mormonism (Mormonism Unmasked, The Mormon Conspiracy, The Facts on the Mormon Church), I found that Fr. Taylor had more charity in his analysis than all of the writers of the aforementioned books combined. I have found great flaws in Mormon Theology, History, Anthropology and Archaeology. Yet because of my relationship with a Mormon woman, I had to be careful on how to compare Christianity to Mormonism. Fr. Taylor gives an unbiased, straight forward account of the two religions. He is careful not to hurt or offend his Mormon family and friends, but he points out critical differences with Catholicism and problems with Mormon Theology. He even goes so far to point out his own weakness in his faith when comparing Joseph Smith's death to the death of a real saint. I recommend this book to any reader, Catholic or not, that has a Mormon friend, Mormon family member or Mormon girl/boy friend. I wish I had had Fr. Taylor's knowledge and charity when I dealt with my relationship, we might still be together to this day if I had.

Fair and Informative without Polemics!.......2000-08-24

Fr. Taylor presents a fair and even-handed comparison of Catholicism and Mormonism from a Catholic perspective. Missing is the bitter polemics which characterizes too much of the comparative religion genre aimed at lay readers. The book's main strenghts are eight chapters which briefly present Mormon beliefs and then compare and contrast those beliefs with Catholic beliefs on the same subject. Fr. Taylor is careful not to disparage Mormon beliefs when he describes them. This, along with his refusal to slander Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, set his book apart in its field. Written by a faithful Catholic this book aims to educate lay Catholic readers on the basic beliefs of Mormonism. This book is not an exhaustive treatise or inacessable scholarly tome. Nonetheless Fr. Taylor does an outstanding job presenting the basics of Mormon beliefs in an organized manner for the average reader. In the end Fr. Taylor explains why he has problems with the Book of Mormon. The Mormon reader will no doubt be frustrated with this if he or she does not take this book for what it is: a fair and charitable comparison from the Catholic perspective. Hot-blooded partisans from both the Catholic and Mormon faiths will dislike this book. One camp because Fr. Taylor writes honestly about the differences, the other camp because he shows respect for those who have beliefs different from his. This is a book written by a man of good will for people of good will. I recommend "A Tale of Two Cities" rather than spending time and money on "When Mormons Call" by Isaiah Bennett. Mr. Bennett is strident and uncharitable in his writing style. Without question Fr. Taylor has written the best introductory comparison of the two faiths available today for the lay reader.

A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry and the War for the Pennant

Average customer rating:

A MUST READ
Read it!
Looks Interesting
MLB 2004: "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times"
Yankees/Red Sox rivalry from the scribes who cover them!

A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry and the War for the Pennant
Tony Massarotti , and John Harper
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1592287042

Book Description

When the Boston Red Sox faced the New York Yankees in the historic 2003 American League Championship Series, the meeting seemed to serve as the climax to perhaps the greatest rivalry in professional sports. Yet, following New York’s comeback victory in scintillating Game 7, both the Red Sox and Yankees entered the off-season without a world title--and with renewed conviction to finish the job in 2004.

In A Tale of Two Cities, respected baseball writers John Harper (New York Daily News) and Tony Massarotti (Boston Herald) chronicle the Yankees and Red Sox in parallel story lines through the summer of 2004. The authors take you behind the scenes with the teams, cities, and media during one of the most intense baseball seasons in history.

Customer Reviews:

A MUST READ.......2006-07-24

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE 2004 AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT RACE. IT GOES THROUGH THE GREAT RIVALRY BETWEEN THE YANKEES AND REDSOX FROM THE BABE RUTH TRADE TO THE STARTLING AND UNBELIEVABLE COME BACK BY THE REDSOX TO THEIR FIRST WORLD SERIES VICTORY SINCE 1918. THE BOOK COVERS IN GREAT DETAIL HOW BOTH TEAMS FAIRED THROUGH OUT THE SEASON AND ALSO TOUCHES ON SOME OF THE GREAT PENNANT RACES THE RIVALS HAVE ENDURED. I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL BASEBALL FANS BUT ESPECIALLY FOR REDSOX FANS. A GREAT READ.

Read it!.......2005-10-18

This is the best Red Sox book out there, and I have read quite a few. If you are a Sox fan and haven't read it, read it!

Looks Interesting.......2005-10-13

LoL. Is that a front cover photo of A-fROD doing the illegal girlie-man move to knock the ball out of the first-baseman's glove?

MLB 2004: "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times".......2005-09-10

It seems highly unusual that beat writers covering the teams involved in MLB's greatest rivalry agreed almost two years ago to collaborate on writing an account of the 2004 season. For both the Yankees and the Red Sox, and their fans, that season provided both the best of times and the worst of times. It is to Massarotti's and Harper's credit that the results of their collaboration, this book, succeeds so well in recreating competition both on and off the playing field. Like a classic Dickens novel, their book offers a riveting plot, direct conflict and dramatic tension, colorful characters, memorable moments, and -- best of all -- behind-the-scenes access to fans such as I who saw none of the Red Sox-Yankees (or if you prefer, Yankees-Red Sox) games in person.

Granted, the national sports media devoted constant and thorough attention to both teams. Only in Massarotti and Harper's account, however, did I find sufficient answers to questions such as these:

1. Why was Grady Little fired as Red Sox manager? Surely there had to be more to it than his deference to Pedro Martinzez.

2. How did the Yankees acquire Alex Rodriguez?

3. In terms of their deportment, what are the most significant differences between the Red Sox and Yankee players?

4. To what extent (if any) did Joe Torre's often strained relationship with George Steinbrenner affect the Yankees' behavior and performance?

5. In terms of their relations with the media, how do Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez differ? Why?

6. At which point during the season did the Red Sox become convinced that they could win the AL playoffs and then the World Series?

7. Who is the real Curt Schilling?

8. What is the single most interesting aspect of the Red Sox-Yankees competition during the 2004 season of which most sports fans are still unaware?

9. How to explain the fact that the Red Sox won the last eight games they played, especially after going 0-3 against the Yankees in the ALC?

10. According to Massarotti and Harper, who were the most valuable and yet least appreciated players on both teams? Why?

Soon, the MLB playoffs will begin. It remains to be seen whether or not the Yankees and/or Red Sox will participate. In that event, will they again meet in the ALC? Whatever does and does not happen, one fact seems obvious to me: The 2004 regular season and subsequent playoffs were among the most exciting thus far. I am grateful to Massarotti and Harper for providing such a revealing as well as entertaining commentary on them.

Yankees/Red Sox rivalry from the scribes who cover them!.......2005-07-18

Like any argument there are two sides and who better to rely on than two sportswriters who make their living covering the year-in-year out battle between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
While this 2005 release has the familiar ring of the classic written by Charles Dickens, it took two authors to produce a work that is worthy both of the name and the plot line of this modern day baseball classic.
Baseball beat writers John Harper of the New York Daily News and Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald have shared writing space as well as barbs about their two hometown teams and now take their grievances public in "A Tale of Two Cities."
The idea for the book took shape just moments after Aaron Boone's ALCS-winning homer cleared the fence at Yankee Stadium in 2003. The two minds agreed that their combined beats and insights gave the reader a truthful and exciting behind the scenes look at this historic battle.
Massarotti opens his first chapter just days after Boone's fateful, memorable shot and rolls into the firing of Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little, the placing of Manny Ramirez on waivers, the courtship and subsequent rebuff of Alex Rodriguez, the stage being set for a divorce with Nomar Garciaparra and the acquisition of Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke.
Harper responds with the news that the Yankees knew of Boone's knee injury during a pick-up basketball game for two weeks prior to releasing it to the media as well as other teams. He explains how GM Brian Cashman worked the phones, creating the trade for A-Rod along with the selling of the former Texas Ranger on a move to third base. The Daily News beat writer also includes the clandestine efforts Cashman took to prevent word from leaking out about the trade, all before taking it to George Steinbrenner.
The two authors provide insight to each team's manager, for Harper, the ex-skipper Grady Little as well as the newly hired Terry Francona after his unsuccessful stint with the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper takes the reader into the boardroom and private dining room of Steinbrenner as he proposes to extend Yankee skipper Joe Torre's contract and why the manager waffled before finally accepting.
Once the 2004 season was underway, both writers give their viewpoints to key meetings between the two squads throughout the year and no subject is off limits.
Read how Massarotti complains of the visiting press box at Yankee stadium, the air of New York fans and players. Harper pounds back with his own tongue-in-cheek shot about "Red Sox Nation" along with his own personal hatred of Pedro Martinez.
The drama continues on and off the field as the AL pennant race heats up, in April.
Pedro Martinez is without a contract, Manny Ramirez becomes a U.S. citizen, Schilling has a bum ankle and his cell phone has local sports talk radio station WEEI in its speed dial, for starters. For the Yankees, Harper reveals how boring Derek Jeter is with the media along with how fake Alex Rodriquez is with the same hoard, but at least he can give you something for your notebook.
Harper also goes so far as to mock his Boston counterparts while filing on deadline after a loss to the Yankees as well as describe the difference in how the media is perceived in the two East Coast cities.
The two authors focus on the competing shortstops, how Jeter exemplifies style, grace and competitiveness, while Garciaparra is often portrayed as shallow, selfish and sometimes weak.
The work of these two authors who have the pleasure of writing about these two ball clubs comes together brilliantly as their passion of the game and their beats glows on the work's pages.
Whether you bleed Yankee Blue or are a card carrying member of Red Sox Nation, "A Tale of Two Cities" must become a part of your baseball collection.

A Tale of Two Cities (Cover to Cover Classics)

Average customer rating:

Critique of Lamia's Review

A Tale of Two Cities (Cover to Cover Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners, Cover to Cover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

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Book Description

This novel was written in 1859 during an emotional and professional crisis in Dickens's own life. It reflects the stark, moody tone of his later works in its portrayal of love and sacrifice at the height of the French Revolution.

Customer Reviews:

Critique of Lamia's Review.......2002-10-29

This is a critique of Lamia's review. Lamia I couldn't agree more with how long the story is. It takes a while to get started, but when it does it is enthralling. In every review that I read, the writer says that he hate Darnay. Why do you hate him? Sure he isn't my favorite person, and somethings he does are bad, but over all he is a kind person. Carton is by far my favorite character. I love how in the end he selflessly gives his life without even telling Darnay. He knows that Darnay will try to stop him and also he doesn't want the recognition of his good deed. Even when he is dying he gives solace to another that is sentenced to die. Everyone should read this book.

Average customer rating:

Great reading of this book

A Tale of Two Cities (Cover to Cover Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners, Cover to Cover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1572705280

Book Description

Through his novel's two unforgettable main characters, Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge, Charles Dickens expertly evokes and contrasts life in England during the reign of George III and life in France during the revolution and the horror that came to dominate it. Personifying these conflicting cultures and historical imperatives, Dickens's two protagonists dramatically fall in love, indicating that perhaps 19th-century England and France had more in common than not. A novel that is both satisfying as a work of literature and as a statement on a crucial period of history, A Tale of Two Cities remains one of Dickens's most popular, inspiring works.

Customer Reviews:

Great reading of this book.......2006-06-28

It is a dark story, however it is Dickens and he is such a great writer. I would like to say that I love this "Cover to Cover Classics" reading on CD, it is very hard to find and classic lit. on CD that is unabridged and in a good price range. It is unabridged and the 14 disks are marked as you go through them. By this I mean the reader states disk one or two ect. Each disk is about one and half hours long. The cost was not high when using Amazon discounts. Listen to this beautiful love story and enjoy it. "A TALE OF TWO CITIES" is a very great read.

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