Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." With these famous words, Charles Dickens plunges the reader into the French Revolution. From the storming of the Bastille to the relentless drop of the guillotine, Dickens vividly captures the terror and upheaval of that tumultuous period. At the center is the novel's hero, Sydney Carton, a lazy, alcoholic attorney who, inspired by a woman, makes the supreme sacrifice. One of Dickens's most exciting novels. A Tale of Two Cities is a stirring classic of love, revenge, and redemption.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface to the First Edition
• Book 1 Recalled to Life
• 1 The Period(p. 11)
• 2 The Mail(p. 13)
• 3 The Night Shadows(p. 16)
• 4 The Preparation(p. 19)
• 5 The Wine-Shop(p. 27)
• 6 The Shoemaker(p. 34)
• Book 2 The Golden Thread
• 1 Five Years Later(p. 45)
• 2 A Sight(p. 49)
• 3 A Disappointment(p. 53)
• 4 Congratulatory(p. 62)
• 5 The Jackal(p. 66)
• 6 Hundreds of People(p. 70)
• 7 Monseigneur in Town(p. 78)
• 8 Moneigneur in the Country(p. 84)
• 9 The Gorgon's Head(p. 88)
• 10 Two Promises(p. 95)
• 11 A Companion Picture(p. 100)
• 12 The Fellow of Delicacy(p. 103)
• 13 The Fellow of No Delicacy(p. 107)
• 14 The Honest Tradesman(p. 111)
• 15 Knitting(p. 118)
• 16 Still Knitting(p. 125)
• 17 One Night(p. 132)
• 18 Nine Days(p. 136)
• 19 An Opinion(p. 140)
• 20 A Plea(p. 145)
• 21 Echoing Footsteps(p. 147)
• 22 The Sea Still Rises(p. 155)
• 23 Fire Rises(p. 158)
• 24 Drawn to the Loadstone Rock(p. 163)
• Book 3 The Track of a Storm(p. 175)
• 1 In Secret(p. 175)
• 2 The Grindstone(p. 183)
• 3 The Shadow(p. 187)
• 4 Calm in Storm(p. 190)
• 5 The Wood-Sawyer(p. 194)
• 6 Triumph(p. 198)
• 7 A Knock at the Door(p. 202)
• 8 A Hand at Cards(p. 206)
• 9 The Game Made(p. 214)
• 10 The Substance of the Shadow(p. 222)
• 11 Dusk(p. 232)
• 12 Darkness(p. 234)
• 13 Fifty-two(p. 240)
• 14 The Knitting Done(p. 247)
• 15 The Footsteps Die Out For Ever(p. 255)
• Essays

Extracto provisto por Syndetics

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, The period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, For good or for evil, In the superlative degree of comparison only. There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, On the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, On the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal To The lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled forever. Excerpted from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Dickens's preeminent and most overtly political novel, set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, radiates with relevance 150 years after its initial publication through two-time Audie Award winner Simon Vance's exceptional reading. Vance's ability to embody myriad voices and seamlessly transition between narration and alternating dialects and accents accentuates the linguistic and narrative vivacity of the text. Because of both the novel's canonized status and Vance's meticulous interpretation of it, recommended for all libraries, particularly those emphasizing the English classics. [With bonus PDF ebook; audio clip available through www.tantor.com. A musical version of Tale, with words, lyrics, and book by Jill Santoriello, opens on Broadway this month.--Ed.]--Christopher Rager, Pasadena, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up-Charles Dickens's classic tale of one family's suffering during the French Revolution is brought to life in this audio adaptation. The voice of Audie Award-winning narrator Simon Vance sets the tone for the characters and creates the Dickensesqe mood of the times when the rich and the poor were far apart and no one was exempt from the ensuing wrath during the Revolution. Vance's stone varies from soothing to animated while creating different voices for the characters and using appropriate accents. A bonus feature on the last CD is an e-book in pdf format that can be printed or used as a read-along while listening to the audio. This easily navigated feature would be particularly helpful for struggling readers.-Jeana Actkinson, Bridgeport High School, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Charles Dickens, perhaps the best British novelist of the Victorian era, was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on February 7, 1812. His happy early childhood was interrupted when his father was sent to debtors' prison, and young Dickens had to go to work in a factory at age twelve. Later, he took jobs as an office boy and journalist before publishing essays and stories in the 1830s.

His first novel, The Pickwick Papers, made him a famous and popular author at the age of twenty-five. Subsequent works were published serially in periodicals and cemented his reputation as a master of colorful characterization, and as a harsh critic of social evils and corrupt institutions. His many books include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, A Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities.

Dickens married Catherine Hogarth in 1836, and the couple had nine children before separating in 1858 when he began a long affair with Ellen Ternan, a young actress. Despite the scandal, Dickens remained a public figure, appearing often to read his fiction. He died in 1870, leaving his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.

(Bowker Author Biography)