A Tale of Two Cities
Subject: Classic Literature
Author or source: Charles Dickens
Updated:
Charles Dickens’s complete novel set in London and Paris around the French Revolution. All three books and 45 chapters, plus the source preface and editorial credits, are preserved. A reflowed reading edition with new pagination; not an abridgement.
Contents of this reading edition
Source page 1
Preface — PDF page 2 Book the First — PDF page 3 Book the Second — PDF page 43 Book the Third — PDF page 205 Colophon — PDF page 316 Uncopyright — PDF page 317
Opening of the original text
Source page 2–3
2 Preface When I was acting‚ with my children and friends‚ in Mr. Wilkie Collins’s drama of The Frozen Deep‚ I first conceived the main idea of this story. A strong desire was upon me then to embody it in my own person; and I traced out in my fancy the state of mind which it would necessitate the presentation to an observant spectator‚ with particular care and interest. As the idea became familiar to me‚ it gradually shaped itself into its present form. Throughout its execution‚ it has had complete possession of me; I have so far verified what is done and suffered in these pages‚ as that I have certainly done and suffered it all myself. Whenever any reference (however slight) is made here to the condition of the French people before or during the Revolution‚ it is truly made‚ on the faith of trustworthy witnesses. It has been one of my hopes to add something to the popular and picturesque means of understanding that terrible time‚ though no one can hope to add anything to the philosophy of Mr. Carlyle’s wonderful book. 3 Book the First Recalled to Life