Another Literary Diversion
I have been reading A Tale of Two Cities. Aside of Scrooge, which I’ve read many times and Great Expectations which was required in high school, I haven’t read much Dickens and have been pleasantly surprised by how readable the book is.
I knew the story, of course - the opening and closing lines have been quoted and mis-quoted many times. A French doctor is imprisoned in the Bastille for 17 years. When he is released, he is brought to England to meet a daughter he never knew he had and by her tender offices is restored to health (physical, mental and spiritual). The daughter falls in love with a self-exiled French tutor and they eventually marry and have a daughter of their own. He (the husband) is actually a member of the French aristocracy but has abandoned his property and title because of a loathing of the way his family has treated the peasant population and a desire to dissociate himself as much as he can from those horrors. Unfortunately, as the French Revolution gathers steam, he feels he must return to help an innocent man and he is captured and marked for execution because he is a member of that aristocracy. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t been in France for many years and that he has had nothing to do with the atrocities perpetuated upon the general populace. All that matters is that he is the marquis and so he must die. An English lawyer, a dissolute but brilliant man and a heavy drinker who bears a striking resemblance to the marquis (and who also has been in love with the marquis’ wife from “afar") arranges to take his place at the guillotine so that the marquis, his wife and child and her father can return to England in safety and so that he may feel that he has accomplished at least one worthwhile thing with his life.
When I’m enjoying a book, I begin to read, but very shortly stop seeing the words on the page. Instead, I’m seeing the story unfold in my head - something like watching a movie, except in more detail. I can hear the footsteps on the stairs, hear the voices and see the expressions on the faces of the characters being written about. When this doesn’t happen, I have no success with the book. I might finish it, but I won’t remember much and it will never be more than a collection of printed pages.
I’ve had this book for quite a while having purchased it with a reluctant feeling that this is probably something I should read - but I didn’t look forward to it much. Last week I ran across it again, sitting patiently in the bookcase and decided, without much enthusiasm I’m afraid, that now was the time.
So I was unprepared when the “movie” began. Despite sometimes labored prose and somewhat sentimental dialogue, the underlying story about these people and their times is rich and compelling. To my surprise, the horrors of the French Revolution are not glossed over as I had expected them to be. I could see the guillotine, hear the moans and cries of the people in the carts being taken to their deaths and smell the stench of the streets.
And, of course, there is knitting content :) I think few of us, however, would care to be associated with the wretched Madame DeFarge!
I feel like I’m writing a book report here :) But I was so surprised by how readable this is and how intense the story is that I can’t help it. Read this! It is available for free, here, here and here to note only a few places.
It is also available as an inexpensive paperback. Most bookstores should carry it, or it could be ordered on-line.
Signet and Penguin paperback editions
If you can get a hold of the video tape (it hasn’t been committed to DVD as yet, more’s the pity) the 1935 movie starring Ronald Coleman is very much worth viewing. There have been many other film versions since, but this is the only one I’m familiar with and it is very good. Of course, I have a life-long soft spot for Ronald Coleman (sigh) which doesn’t hurt anything either!
Ronald Coleman as Sydney Carton
Dickens was a popular writer in his time and the literary critics felt that since his work was so popular with the masses, it couldn’t be real literature. Fortunately, modern opinions differ.
I came within 20 pages of finishing the book last night, but decided I couldn’t handle Carton’s sacrifice at 1:30 AM, alone in the dark (except for my reading light). I will finish it today and have my cry. And then I’ll probably go in search of more Dickens.
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Ditto! Knitting and Dickens....two of my fav, however, you are correct in not wanting to be compared to Madame DeFarge! Still, you have to admit that is a intriguing concept surrounding her knitting! Another great place for Dickens is http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/dickensov.html Also, Classicnotes and Sparknotes on- line have great chapter outlines and questions. I’m presently reading the Tale of Two Cities in the Signet version, however, I miss the illustration plates that the Penquin version has. Currently I’m intriqued with Hablot Knight Browne (’Phiz’) work in the late 1800’s as well as other plates from that period. Would love to discuss more if you want!!
I was reading the Signet version too - but didn’t like it much - the edition (1980s, I think), that is. The print was small and the margins non-existant. I had to practically break the spine of the book to read the text close to the center on either side. I suspect the Penguin version was presented in a much nicer fashion. “Our Mutual Friend” has been recommended to me and I’ll probably try to find it on-line - though that’s not convenient for reading in bed :)
I did not know Browne, but upon your recommendation, looked him up and looked, specifically, at the illustrations for “A Tale of Two Cities”. It’s an interesting style, though not one that I think modern readers would be agreeable to. I particularly like the scene outside the courtroom early in the novel with Carton slouching against a wall in shadow in the background :)
I think that Dickens’ scenes with the crowd are some of the best-written anywhere, in English or French, about the Revolution. I’ve got a bit of a mini-obsession about the FR, having taken two v. interesting seminars about it at university despite the fact that its outside of my real subject area. Fascinating period!
I find it takes me a few chapters to really get into Dickens - the wordiness always makes slow goign for me on the first few pages.
Krista - I know what you mean. Modern writing tends to be a great deal more spare. But I think part of the attraction for me was that the writing style evoked the time in which Dickens was setting this to paper and made me realize that for him, the French Revolution was less than 100 years in the past.
I agree; the crows scenes are indeed well done, vivid, fascinating and utterly apalling all at the same time.
Robbyn- Ah-ha, great point about the FR less than 100yrs past when Dickens put to paper! One concept I didn’t think about!? I guess I’m caught up with the way Dickens wrote many of his ‘books’-in series and the timeframes behind that! Back to knitting-Love your blog, LOVE the celtic knots, & Grumpus, Jr. is gorgeous!
Thanks PJ - I’m glad you enjoy it! 
