Although a mechanical device used for beheadings had been in use for centuries, the guillotine is best known for its use during the Reign of Terror in France during the French Revolution where the device, which takes its name from Dr. Guillotin, was used for thousands of "humane" beheadings. The guillotine was still in use well into the 20th century.
Dickens witnessed a beheading by guillotine in Rome in 1845 which he described in Pictures From Italy:
"[The prisoner] immediately kneeled down, below the knife. His neck fitting into a hole, made for the purpose, in a cross plank, was shut down, by another plank above; exactly like the pillory. Immediately below him was a leathern bag. And into it his head rolled instantly.
...The eyes were turned upward, as if he had avoided the sight of the leathern bag, and looked to the crucifix. Every tinge and hue of life had left it in that instant. It was dull, cold, livid, wax. The body also.
There was a great deal of blood... A strange appearance was the apparent annihilation of the neck. The head was taken off so close, that it seemed as if the knife had narrowly escaped crushing the jaw, or shaving off the ear; and the body looked as if there were nothing left above the shoulder."
Being "recalled to life" is a major theme throughout A Tale of Two Cities. In fact, Dickens toyed with the idea of titling the book Recalled to Life.
Dr. Manette's release from the Bastille, Charles Darnay's release after the trial for treason, and his later escape from the French prison, are examples of this theme. Also, Roger Cly's fake burial and Jerry Cruncher's nocturnal occupation as a 'resurrection man' follow this theme.
Sydney Carton, on his way to the guillotine, envisions himself 'recalled to life' in the person of the Darnay's future son.
As Carton is contemplating his eminent sacrifice he finds peace in the passage from John 11:25-26:
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Dickens met Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle in 1840 and the two became fast friends. An essayist, satirist, and historian, Carlyle was a tremendous influence on the younger Dickens. Dickens actively sought Carlyle's approval and the influence of Carlyle on Dickens' later work is unmistakable. Although the crusty Carlyle at times dismissed Dickens as merely an entertainer, he truly loved the exuberant, full-of-life writer.
Dickens jokingly claimed to have read Carlyle's The French Revolution (1837) 500 times. He used it as his main historical reference in writing A Tale of Two Cities, a book which Carlyle called 'wonderful'.
A Tale of Two Cities - Published in weekly parts Apr 1859 - Nov 1859
Read it online | Buy it at Amazon.com | Video
Dickens' twelfth novel was published in his new weekly journal, All the
Year Round, without illustrations. Simultaneously with the weekly parts,
the novel was also published in monthly parts with illustrations by Hablot
Browne. An American edition was also published, in slightly later weekly
parts (May to December 1859), in Harper's Weekly. The novel, which begins "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Dickens researched the historical background meticulously, using his friend Thomas Carlyle's History of the French Revolution as a reference. This historical accuracy, with less reliance on character development and humor, led to the rather un-Dickensian feel of the book.
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Mini-Plot
The year is 1775 and Dr. Manette, imprisoned unjustly 18 years ago, has been released from the Bastille prison in Paris. His daughter, Lucie, who had thought he was dead, and Jarvis Lorry, an agent for Tellson's Bank, which has offices in London and Paris, bring him to England.
Skip ahead 5 years to 1780. Frenchman Charles Darnay is on trial for treason, accused of passing English secrets to the French and Americans during the American Revolution. He is acquitted when eyewitnesses prove unreliable partly because of Darnay's resemblance to barrister Sydney Carton.
In the years leading up to the fall of the Bastille in 1789 Darnay, Carton, and Stryver all fall in love with Lucie Manette. Carton, an irresponsible and unambitious character who drinks too much, tells Lucie that she has inspired him to think how his life could have been better and that he would make any sacrifice for her. Stryver, Carton's barrister friend, is persuaded against asking for Lucie's hand by Mr. Lorry, now a close friend to the Manettes. Lucie marries Darnay and they have a daughter.
Meanwhile, in France, Darnay's uncle the Marquis St. Evremonde is murdered
in his bed for crimes committed against the people. Charles has told Dr.
Manette of his relationship to the French aristocracy, but no one else.
By 1792 the revolution has escalated in France. Mr. Lorry receives a letter at Tellson's Bank addressed to the Marquis St. Evremonde whom no one seems to know. Darnay sees the letter and tells Lorry that he knows the Marquis and will deliver it. The letter is from a friend, Gabelle, wrongfully imprisoned in Paris and asked the Marquis (Darnay) for help. Knowing that the trip will be dangerous, Charles feels compelled to go and help his friend. He leaves for France without telling anyone the real reason.
On the road to Paris, Darnay (St Evremonde) is recognized by the mob and taken to prison in Paris. Mr. Lorry, in Paris on business, is joined by Dr. Manette, Lucie, Miss Pross, and later, Sydney Carton.
Dr. Manette has influence over the citizens due to his imprisonment in the Bastille and is able to have Darnay released but he is retaken the next day on a charge by the Defarges and is sentenced to death within 24 hours.
Sydney Carton has influence on one of the jailers and is able to enter the cell, drug Darnay, exchange clothes, and have the jailer remove Darnay, leaving Carton to die in his stead.
On the guillotine Carton peacefully declares "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."
| Principal Characters: Jarvis Lorry Dr. Alexandre Manette Lucie Manette Ernest Defarge Madame Defarge Charles Darnay Marquis de St Evremonde Sydney Carton Mr. Stryver Jerry Cruncher Miss Pross Roger Cly John Barsad/Soloman Pross Gaspard The Vengeance Theophile Gabelle |
A Tale of Two Cities Links: The Dickens Page The Victorian Web A Far Better Rest - by Susanne Alleyn Teaching A Tale of Two Cities Bartleby.com SparkNotes - Excellent! Wikipedia - A Tale of Two Cities  Clerkenwell The Temple Temple Bar Vauxhall Gardens |
A Tale of Two Cities
(1980) VHS
Peter Cushing
A Tale of Two Cities
(1989) VHS | DVD
Masterpiece Theatre
 April 1859 Dickens published A Tale of Two Cities in his new weekly journal All the Year Round hoping to retain readers of his previous weekly, Household Words. Sales of All the Year Round were stronger than Household Words had ever been. November 1859 Dickens attempted to persuade George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) to contribute a story for All the Year Round. After some negotiation Eliot declined. |
