by Charles Dickens, 1859
London and Paris, approximately 1770 to 1793 or 1794, French Revolution 1789
Wow! What an incredible story! Dr. Manette is rescued from 18 years in prison in France. His daughter, Lucie, now an adult, cares for him and makes him whole again. They participate in a trial of Charles Darnay, a former French aristocrat, wrongly accused of treason. He is freed, not guilty, mainly because of the expert questioning and defense of Stryver, through his friend, Sydney Carton. Both Charles and Sydney fall in love with Lucie. Charles marries Lucie and they have a special home in England. But Charles decides to return to France to try and save an old servant. He ends up imprisoned in France during the French Revolution, a time when La Guillotine is killing up to 60 people/day. Charles is due to be beheaded but because Sydney Carton looks like him, and is so smart, and cares so deeply for Lucie, he devises a plan – gets into prison and switches places with Charles – and dies in his place! Sydney had once pledged to Lucie that he would be there for her if she ever needed him. And he was.
The story begins, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” and ends, “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 at his death, sacrificially, in place of Charles Darnay.)
WOW!! (Need to get movie – Masterpiece Theatre – ending made Wayne cry!)
Recommended by Sandy Calhoun.