Reviewed by:Norlan
De Groot Key words: Fiction, Novel,
World Literature, English Literature
Recommended Reading Level:
Grades 9, 10
Theme: Neither governments
nor families can escape the turbulent times of the French Revolution.
Summary: Charles Darnay,
a French aristocrat, leaves all behind to move to England. He meets Lucie
Manette and they eventually marry, to the great disappointment of Sydney
Carton. When Charles is called back to France, he is taken prisoner and
is about to be beheaded, until Sydney Carton steps in.
Strengths: This is a classic
story about a turbulent time in European history.
Weaknesses: Some have argued
that this is the most poorly written of all Dickens' works because it is
written in a pompous style and jumps back and forth between characters
and cities. Others argue that the writing style is appropriate because
it fits the subject matter of the book. In any case, the book, at times,
is hard to follow.
Other Notes: This is a good
book for a more advanced ninth or tenth grader. It takes some work to get
through it, but it is worth it.
Dickens,
Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Reprint edition. New York: Penguin,
1985.