Reading 1001 discussion

Read 2013
A story of the France before and during the French Revolution by Charles Dickens published in 1859 is my favorite Dickens right now. The two cities are London and Paris. The French peasantry had been abused by the aristocracy and revolution broke and the lives of aristocrats was in danger of the guillotine. The story follows several protagonist as is the usual with Dickens. Charles Darnay, a former French aristocrat who gave it up because he detested the way the aristocrats were behaving. He goes to London. Upon return to France because of a letter requesting his help. Charles is taken prisoner by the revolution and sentenced to die. Charles is married to Lucy Manette and has a young daughter. Syndey Carton is a dissipated English barrister who endeavours to redeem his ill-spent life out of his unrequited love for Darnay's wife. This book is a story of love and redemption. The DeFarges operate a wine shop and are revolutionaries. Madame DeFarge is constantly knitting but is very deadly character.

I remember this as the iconic curl up by the fire with a good book sort of tale, from both readings as a teen and as an adult. Although Mantel's revolutionary Paris is more nuanced and interesting, I remember feeling there was a really a wonderful amount of romantic vision to Dickens which is perfect for winter, and remembering fondly later.

Best first line of a book: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, …”

I don’t remember if I read this book in high school English but I decided I needed to read it before I went to Paris. It was well worth the read or re-read as it may.

“Crush humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.”

During my recent jury service, I met a writer who was a former Columbia professor. He had written a book about this book titled Dickens and Reality by John Romano. It was fun to discuss Dickens and books during out jury service. The book is out of print and hard to find but maybe someday I will read it.