Resumo de A Tale Of Two Cities

A Tale of two cities
The Author Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Hampshire, in 1812. As a youngster he experienced extreme poverty, even though his father had a job in the navy pay office. At one point, when he was barely twelve years old, his father was sent to a debtor's prison and Charles had to work at a blacking factory. Even though he had little formal schooling, Dickens had a flair for writing. In 1834, he accepted a job as a reporter for the Morning Chronicle and started the serial publication of the Pickwick Papers. This brought him fame and success. Dickens had his own vision regarding the content of the magazine and had several major disagreements with his publishers. In 1859, he decided to branch out on his own and created a new magazine, All The Year Round. His first major writing was A Tale of Two Cities, which appeared in serial form in his magazine. This novel is a departure from Dickens' normal works, being a historical novel. The work deals with the French Revolution and even though most of the characters and events are fictitious, some actual historical happenings are portrayed. The book is full of detail and the various storylines are drawn together in the climatic concluding chapters. Another important novel that he serialized was Great Expectations. The magazine also published three of Wilkie Collins's novels, The Woman in White (1860), No Name (1862) and The Moonstone (1868). Dickens continued to publish All the Year Round until his death in 1870. Most of Dickens' writings deal with social issues. It is clear that his unhappy childhood influenced his works and many of his books deal with poverty and the injustices that society of that time heaped upon children. Dickens' works became very popular during his lifetime mainly because his characterization captured the hearts and minds of the reading public, and also because they were affordable in that they were published in the form of serials. Dickens remains one of England's most popular authors. His books are read throughout the world and they have been translated into many languages advertisement.
Main Characters
Dr. Manette
He was secretly imprisoned in the Bastille for eighteen years, by the twin Evremonde brothers. He suffers mental trauma from his experiences and often lapses into a confused state. His daughter, Lucie, nurses him back to health. During the Revolution he is able to postpone the sentence of death on his son-on-law, Charles Darnay and is regarded as a hero by the revolutionaries. A document that he wrote whilst imprisoned is later used in evidence against Darnay in his trial.
Lucie Manette, later Darnay
She is a beautiful young woman who is the central character and impresses all those around her by her kindness, devotion and compassion. Her character is in direct opposition to Mme. Defarge who is depicted as an unnatural woman entirely consumed by hate and revenge.
Charles Darnay
He is a French aristocrat and heir to the Evremonde estate at the start of the novel. He is opposed to his uncle?s evil ways and denounces his name and moves to England where he works as a tutor and marries Lucie Manette. He is put on trial during the Revolution for the crimes of his family.
Sidney Carton
Carton is a lawyer who assists Mr. Stryver, a successful lawyer in London. He leads a wasted life and drinks excessively, but has an uncanny resemblance to Charles Darnay and he uses this twice in the book to save Darnay?s life. He sees in Darnay everything he could have achieved himself if he had not been tempted to waste his opportunities. It is his love for Lucie that motivates him to make this ultimate sacrifice.
Mr. Jarvis Lorry
Lorry works for Tellson?s Bank and is a loyal friend to the Manette family. He originally brings the Doctor back to London and also assists in bringing the whole family out of France during the Revolution.
Mme. Defarge
She had a disturbing childhood during which time her entire family was killthe Evremonde brothers. This has made her a hard and vengeful woman who uses the Revolution as a means for exacting her revenge on all aristocrats, but in particular the Evremonde family line. She knits a registry with the names of all those who are condemned. Together with her husband, she owns a wine shop and they are the leaders of a band called the Jacquerie.
Miss Pross
She is a forceful English woman who was Lucie?s nursemaid and remains her devoted servant and protector. Through her last role, she kills Mme. Defarge.
Jerry Cruncher
He is a messenger for Tellson?s Bank and is Jarvis Lorry?s bodyguard. He is also a part-time grave robber.
John Barsad or Solomon Pross
In England he was a police spy and later became a spy in revolutionary France. When he is recognized by Miss Pross in France, Carton forces him to assist in saving Darnay.

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