A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Charles Dickens

Charles DickensBorn in Portsmouth, England, in 1812. The second of eight children.His family was lower middle-class.His father was imprisoned for debt in London.

Dickens (continued)Dickens was sent to work a shoe polish factory to earn money after his father was imprisoned.At the rat infested factory, he compared the factory to a living grave.Because of his harsh childhood, Dickens sought success more than ever and was always sympathetic to the poor.An unexpected inheritance ended the family’s imprisonment and working conditions.

Dickens (continued)When he was 15, he found work as a law clerk, another job he hated.He wrote The Pickwick Papers at age 25, which made him popular for the rest of his life. Other novels followed and Dickens became the most popular author of his time.He feared violence and cruelty that occurred in revolutions, which is shown in AToTC.

Dickens’ NovelsPickwick PapersOliver TwistHard TimesDavid CopperfieldGreat ExpectationsBarnaby RudgeBleak HouseLittle DorrittA Tale of Two Cities

Dickens (continued)Dickens and his wife (Ellen Ternan) had 10 children but separated in 1858.Dickens acted in plays, travelled on reading tours, and worked to improved education throughout his life.Dickens died in 1870.Dickens is buried in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey and he is celebrated as a national treasure.

Novel Background“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair….”

Novel Background

A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859. Dickens was very upset with the social and economic inequality of British society.The poor lived in terrible living conditions while the ruling class lived in the lap of luxury.Dickens believed that times had never been worse in England and he wrote about these difficult times in many of his novels.

Novel BackgroundThe French Revolution was based on the government unable to pay its debts. The poor of France overthrew and killed the rulers (Louis and Marie Antoinette) and much of the aristocracy (ruling wealthy class).

Novel SettingThe story takes place over a period of about 18 years, beginning in 1775 and ending in 1793.

Some of the story takes place earlier and is told in flashback.

This flashback provides information to help explain key events in the story.

Key events in the novel take place just before the French Revolution.