#A Tale of Two Cities

[megairea]

“I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.”

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859

[pascalcampion]

Late night thoughts With a little help from Dickens

[pureanonofficial]

I am going to [remembers suicide jokes badly impact my mental health] get guillotined in place of my unrequited love's husband.

[dickensdaily]

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'

Have you ever wanted to read A Tale of Two Cities in the same way as its original readers? Dickens Daily allows you to do just that by sending instalments right to your inbox at the same rate as the original serialisation!

What is A Tale of Two Cities about?

Tracing the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysm of the French Revolution and the Terror, A Tale of Two Cities interweaves thrilling historical drama with heartbreaking personal tragedy. It vividly depicts a revolutionary Paris running red with blood, and a London where the poor starve. In the midst of the chaos two men - an exiled French aristocrat and a dissolute English lawyer - are both redeemed and condemned by their love for the same woman, as the shadow of La Guillotine draws closer...

How does this serialisation work?

The novel was originally serialised in the weekly periodical All the Year Round from 30th April to 26th November 1859, so these are the dates we will follow in 2025. New chapters will be sent out on Wednesdays, as well as on Sundays for weeks where there is a second chapter. (Week one - and only week one - has three chapters and so will also have a Friday instalment.)

All chapters will be sent directly to your inbox for you to read straight away or savour in your own time. Discussions can also be had here on tumblr at the Dickens Daily tag.

Join us at the link below!

[spockandstars]

I was thinking about how Spock is intentionally paralleled with Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities in The Wrath of Khan, and now I am unwell!

At the beginning of the movie, Spock famously gives Kirk A Tale of Two Cities as a birthday present. This book was specifically included for its themes of sacrifice and resurrection, which obviously mirror Spock’s decision to give up his life to save the crew. Notably, Kirk’s final lines reference the famous closing of the novel.

Kirk: It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done before... a far better resting in place I go to than I have ever known...

Carol: is that a poem?

Kirk: Something Spock was trying to tell me. On my birthday.

So what’s the importance of this line? The famous “far better thing” quote is from the book’s ending when Carton has just sacrificed himself for his beloved Lucie, giving himself up to be executed in place of her husband so that she may find happiness. (Live long and prosper, anyone?)

Interestingly, both Spock and Carton are emotionally repressed characters, and anguish over the depth of their love for the people who uniquely see them for who they are — in this case, Jim and Lucie. While I’d argue that Spock is more at peace with himself and his feelings for Jim after the events of the first movie, the point still stands that Jim is the one to truly understand him in a world that labels him as a cold and calculating being.

I believe that this is what Kirk’s line calling Spock’s soul “the most human I have ever encountered,” is supposed to represent. (Even though I agree with the criticism that it could have been worded better!) Similarly, Lucie is the one to recognize Carton’s inner nature in spite of his aloof facade, begging “I would ask you to believe that [Carton] has a heart he very, very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wounds in it.” (Book 2, Chapter 20.)

When Carton finally admits his love to Lucie, it’s hard not to see the resemblance to Spock’s dilemma in the first movie. You know, that time when Spock, in his heartbreak over something related to Jim (that were not given an explanation for), cries out “Jim! Good-bye my . . . my t’hy’la. This is the last time I will permit myself to think of you or even your name again!” before attempting to purge himself of all feelings in an ancient ritual, and failing because the Vulcan priestess can totally sense that he’s still thinking about Kirk. (Yup, that totally straight time!)

Well, Carton is in a similarly agonizing predicament, because he can’t get his feelings for Lucie to go away. He tells her, “I break down before the knowledge of what I want to say to you” and “I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, heap of ashes that I am, into fire—a fire, however, inseparable in its nature from myself, quickening nothing, lighting nothing, doing no service, idly burning away.” (Book 2, Chapter 13)

He also expresses that he could never separate his love for her from himself, saying that “Within myself, I shall always be, towards you, what I am now.” (Book 2, Chapter 13) Yeah, I know the fact this mirrors Spock’s famous “I have been and always shall be yours” is probably a coincidence, but I’ll be damned if I don’t mention it.

Finally, Carton expresses his love for her in his willingness to sacrifice himself for her sake: “For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you… there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!” (Book 2, Chapter 13.) Of course, Carton’s story ends when he sacrifices himself for her, fulfilling this promise. Hmm, now who else does that sound like?

This is definitely not a perfect parallel: Spock doesn’t start out as a lazy alcoholic, although there is an argument to be made that Carton’s low self-worth reflects Spock’s before he went on his conversion therapy fueled journey of self discovery. Additionally, I wouldn’t say that Spock’s love for Kirk is unrequited like Carton’s for Lucie, (as evidenced by many things, but I’ll primarily point to the events of The Motion Picture and The Search for Spock), but you could potentially cast Carol in the role of Darnay, Lucie’s husband.

The most important thing to glean from this is that Spock was very deliberately set up to be the Carton figure, which is interesting given that Carton’s actions are driven by his willingness to do anything to see his beloved be happy and prosper.

[oscarwetnwilde]

James Wilby as Sydney Carton in “A Tale of Two Cities” (1989)

[paraheronstairs]

can we please talk about the scene where clary asks jace (controlled by sebastian) to read to her and he picks A TALE OF TWO CITIES BY CHARLES DICKENS

and she describes the golden written title and the dedication that can’t be read BECAUSE IT FADED WITH TIME

you could only see “with hope at last, william herondale”

because i cried in that moment as if the ceilling fell on my bookshelf

[captainfantasticalright]

A Tale of Two Cities - a place where there is no Time in the afterlife of Heaven, where miraculous escapes occur due to physical similarities and where Love, Fate, and Death play central characters.

I feel like everyone knows the first sentence of this book. It sometimes takes away from the importance of the last.

Spoilers if you haven’t read it: that is Sydney Carton saying this, a character who sacrifices himself and quite literally switches bodies with Charles Darnay- the protagonist who had been condemned to the guillotine and husband of Lucie Manette- in order for them to have a happy ending.

How important is it then that Aziraphale is reading that book in the s2 poster? After all, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Good Omens and The Crow Road all make poignant appearances in the season 2 intro as well.

They all are openly referenced in the show too. However, all of them are left open. Crowley gifts Muriel The Crow Road (we don’t know the consequences or how the plot of that unravels and affects the show); Jim reads the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities, but never makes it to the end; he also opens the meta world of his existence by reading the opening lines of Good Omens and we have a Jane Austen inspired ball and confession, which all are interrupted and cut abruptly. There are so many breaks that undoubtedly have to be continued.

Although I do not believe that Aziraphale or Crowley will end up in Sydney Carton’s place- someone else might in order for the non star -crossed lovers to find their piece of Earth and peace on Earth together. I do believe, there might be a hint of Aziraphale wanting to perform the greatest act of sacrifice by the mere fact of him already doing that by the end of s2- but all I see is a happy ending where the echoes of their footsteps are passed on through generations who had the courage to find their haven outside of Heaven/Hell.

And yes Fate, Vengeance, Love and Death all are immortalized and personified by Dickens. Guess who triumphs over all of them? Love.

[mygentlehope]

“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.”  — Sydney Carton, A Tale of Two Cities • Charles Dickens

Edit for my most recently finished book.

Image source: Pinterest

[secretmellowart]

A rough Sydney Carton sketch. Some book club buddies recently reminded me of my high school phase of “desperately searching the internet for Carton fanart,” so here’s sad tragique Carton for all those who follow in my footsteps. (There are dozens of us, dozens! )

[isobelline]

What your favourite Dickens novel says about you:

(bear in mind, most of these are severely vibes-based)

The Pickwick Papers: You're most likely gay and have a close group of friends. Your favourite hobby is prank calling your local pizza place. You miss Vine.

Oliver Twist: This is the only Dickens novel you've read or you just really like the musical. You feel extremely sorry for Nancy. You're really attached to your pet(s).

Nicholas Nickleby: You have a strong sense of justice. You either have a travel blog or want to have one. Despite everything you believe that people are fundamentally good.

The Old Curiosity Shop: You're the oldest sibling. You're interested in lost media because you're hoping to find that one cartoon that scarred you as a child. You believe that things aren't what they used to be.

Barnaby Rudge: You've watched at least one major 90s sitcom in its entirety. You love gossip. You call yourself "a little gremlin" unironically.

Martin Chuzzlewit: Oh wow, you exist? Good for you, good for you... You like nature and I mean REALLY like it. You're a completionist. You love Tom Pinch with all your heart.

Dombey and Son: You have daddy issues (duh). You're very lonely but too proud to admit it. You love gothic literature and movies about creepy children.

David Copperfield: You relate to Aunt Betsey an ungodly amount. You like listening to podcasts and imagining that the hosts are talking directly to you. You just love life, man, and all that it has to offer.

Bleak House: You're academically gifted. You know how to knit/crochet/cross stitch/all of the above. In every social situation you're the "mom friend".

Hard Times: You're not like the other girls. You had a steampunk phase. You like to read about famous shipwrecks in your spare time.

Little Dorrit: You love Downton Abbey and/or The Gilded Age. You prefer Jane Bennett to Lizzie. You are on good terms with your parents.

A Tale of Two Cities: You're a centrist. Biopic is your favourite genre of film. You don't like going to concerts because they are too loud.

Great Expectations: There's a good chance you've read this because of South Park. You think Estella deserved better (and you're right). You read a lot of fanfiction.

Our Mutual Friend: You like your characters to be actual characters and not caricatures. You call tell a Cabernet from a Merlot. You have many dating horror stories.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood: You've been on at least one ghost tour. You dislike BBC's Sherlock because it is unfaithful to the books. You strongly considered going to mortuary school at some point.

[scarysanctuary]

In The Wrath of Khan Spock gives Kirk A Tale of Two Cities for his birthday, you know, the book where Sydney Carton sacrifices his life to save Lucie Manette's husband and her family, the woman whom he was deeply in love with, because of "this simple feeling", he strove to be a better person. This thoughtful gift is given to him in the very movie in which Spock sacrifices his life for everyone, including Kirk and his family, his son who is on board and is actively standing behind Spock when he hears Kirk say that they are minutes away from dying, and he leaps into action to save them.

Now yes, there are different kinds of love, but I don't think its a stretch when the events of the book are directly being mirrored in the movie, and the characters they are mirroring are those of a romantic nature, not to mention in ATOTC, Sydney's love for Lucie is one-sided, she's married to another man, and depending on which material you're looking at, Jim was once married as well, and even had a kid, which would put Spock in the same position of feeling like a romantic love was hopeless for him as well. All of this to say, Spock was in love with Kirk and that is what motivated his actions, I rest my case your honor.

[undinecissy]

James Wilby in A Tales of Two Cities(1989)

[i-am-becoming-the-midnight-sun]

I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Alfred Eisenstaedt

Penn Station - April, 1943

[gayboss-too-close-to-the-sun]

There's something about the novels I've read that are obsessed with Napoleon - Les Miserables, War and Peace, The Count of Monte Cristo - and something about the novel's I've read that are obsessed with the French Revolution - A Tale of Two Cities, The Scarlet Pimpernel (Les Miserables is about a French Revolution but not the French Revolution). Those are the threads between those books, but somehow it feels stronger than just similar themes. I want to sit and spend a year reading nothing but those five books back to back and see what I learn.