A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations: Two Novels (Oprah's Book Club) [Paperback]

Charles Dickens (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 6, 2010 | Series: Oprah's Book Club

Two of the most beloved novels in all of English literature--together in one extraordinary volume.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES
After 18 years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the aging Doctor Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There the lives of the two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil roads of London, they are drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror, and they soon fall under the lethal shadow of the guillotine.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor--these form a series of events that changes the orphaned Pip's life forever, and he eagerly abandons his humble origins to begin a new life as a gentleman. Dickens's haunting late novel depicts Pip’s education and development through adversity as he discovers the true nature of his "great expectations."

This deluxe paperback edition features
•    French flaps
•    rough-cut high-quality paper
•    complimentary front- and back-cover designs highlighting each novel and including foil and debossing

A Charles Dickens Timeline

1812	Born February 7 in Portsmouth, England
1824	His father John sent to Marshalsea Debtor's Prison for a debt of £40 and 10 shillings
	Began working 10-hour days in shoe-polish warehouse to help support family
1833	First story, "A Dinner at Poplar Walk," appeared in the Monthly Magazine
1836	First book, Sketches by Boz, collected his early journalism and stories
	First novel, The Pickwick Papers, began its monthly serialization
	Married Catherine Hogarth
1837-39	Oliver Twist appeared in monthly installments
1838-39	Nicholas Nickleby serialized
1840-41	The Old Curiosity Shop
1841	Barnaby Rudge
1842	American Notes, based on his tour that year of the United States
1843	The Christmas Carol, the first of his "Christmas tales"
1843-44	Martin Chuzzlewit
1846-48	Dombey and Son
1849-50	David Copperfield
1852-53	Bleak House
1854	Hard Times
1855-57	Little Dorrit
1857	Met actress Ellen Ternan, his longtime companion
1858	Separated from his wife, Catherine
1859	A Tale of Two Cities
1860-61	Great Expectations
1864-65	Our Mutual Friend
1867-68	Second tour of America
1868-69	Farewell reading tour of the British Isles
1870	The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished)
	Died from a stroke on June 9

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

One of the grand masters of Victorian literature, Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Landport, Portsea, England. He died in Kent on June 9, 1870. The second of eight children of a family continually plagued by debt, the young Dickens came to know not only hunger and privation, but also the horror of the infamous debtors' prison and the evils of child labor. A turn of fortune in the shape of a legacy brought release from the nightmare of prison and "slave" factories and afforded Dickens the opportunity of two years' formal schooling at Wellington House Academy. He worked as an attorney's clerk and newspaper reporter until his Sketches by Boz (1836) and The Pickwick Papers (1837) brought him the amazing and instant success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. In later years, the pressure of serial writing, editorial duties, lectures, and social commitments led to his separation from Catherine Hogarth after 23 years of marriage. It also hastened his death at the age of 58, when he was characteristically engaged in a multitude of work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 848 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (December 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142196584
• ISBN-13: 978-0142196588
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

One of the grand masters of Victorian literature, Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Landport, Portsea, England. He died in Kent on June 9, 1870. The second of eight children of a family continually plagued by debt, the young Dickens came to know not only hunger and privation,but also the horror of the infamous debtors' prison and the evils of child labor. A turn of fortune in the shape of a legacy brought release from the nightmare of prison and "slave" factories and afforded Dickens the opportunity of two years' formal schooling at Wellington House Academy. He worked as an attorney's clerk and newspaper reporter until his Sketches by Boz (1836) and The Pickwick Papers (1837) brought him the amazing and instant success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. In later years, the pressure of serial writing, editorial duties, lectures, and social commitments led to his separation from Catherine Hogarth after twenty-three years of marriage. It also hastened his death at the age of fifty-eight, when he was characteristically engaged in a multitude of work.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#15 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

#84 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

#15 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

#84 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read and a great gift December 7, 2010

By B. McEwan TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

As usual, Oprah has picked a great book for her book club, only this time around she's recommending two books for the price of one, literally. And great books they both are. Charles Dickens is one of the towering authors of English literature. If you haven't read Dickens -- and I mean read, not just seen a movie -- you have a gaping hole in your knowledge and your literary experience.

A Tale of Two Cities is generally considered the better of these two novels. Some have called it Dickens' greatest, which is saying something when one considers the entire body of work from this outstanding author. At heart, Dickens is a story teller and A Tale of Two Cities relates a gripping story set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and the sweeping intellectual, political and social changes of the Enlightenment period.

The basics of the plot are relayed elsewhere, but I caution you not to read too much about the story line before you have read the novel, as one of the best features of Dickens is his ability to surprise and delight with the twists and turns of his plots and the events that challenge his characters. Great characters they always are too. A Tale of Two Cities is full of interesting peoples, as well as events. Sydney Carton, for example, is on my list of the ten best fictional heros of all time. (See my list here on Amazon.)

While Great Expectations is not as highly regarded as A Tale of Two Cities, it remains an outstanding novel. Think of Great Expectations as the Cadillac to A Tale of Two Cities' Rolls Royce. There's nothing wrong with a Caddy and Great Expectations delivers on all of the fronts you'd expect.... It features wonderful characters, particularly Miss Havisham, the rich eccentric who is arguably the basis for every kooky old lady character that came after her.

There was once a time when every school kid in the US was assigned to read Great Expectations in 7th grade English. If you are one of those, I encourage you to reread this novel, as I expect it will be surprisingly pleasant when not consumed under duress. It's a wonderful story with themes and lessons that remain resonant today, well over 100 years after Dickens wrote it.

So rush out and buy two copies of this double-barreled hit, one for yourself and one as a gift for your best friend. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent AudioBook July 10, 2012

By R. Koning

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an unabridged version of Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities. This recording has a talented cast with consistent application of well-differentiated character voices. There is a narrator who reads the non-dialog portions of Dickens' novels. The chapters and headings are narrated. There are clear bookends on each CD telling you which CD it is and which CD is next in the series. The last few lines of one CD are repeated at the beginning of the next CD so that you know you have connected them correctly and have the context for the next portion of text. These are the features of what I call an excellent audiobook. The listener gets the author's imaging, setting, and context thanks to a full reading of the book. There are 35 hours of reading here. The two sets of CDs come in a very sturdy plastic library case with ring-bound jackets for each disc. Highly recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great tale January 10, 2012

By Sammy Bright

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

A very clear and well paced reading of a classic tale by one of the world's greatest writers.I highly recommend this presentation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection for the fan of Dickens December 29, 2010

By fra7299 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

With A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations as the new Oprah book selection, we have two very different styles of Dickens. My preference is Great Expectations, although many love A Tale of Two Cities also, as it is often read in high school. A Tale of Two Cities lacks the comic relief that most of the Dickens novels have, and there aren't many "Dickens-like" characters within the story. Also, A Tale of Two Cities is pretty cut and dry within its characterization; good guys are clearly good guys, and bad guys are the villains, and there isn't any gray area to speak of. Still, there is power with the message of what revenge and war bring. Within Great Expectations there is much more depth and dimensionality to the characters, both good and bad. I think that any Dickens novel has merit, and should be read because of its moral, message, themes and social commentaries. Now, you get two in one book.

A Tale of Two Cities centers on the English/French revolutionary war. We have our heroes (Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton) and villains (Madame Defarge and her revolutionaries). A Tale of Two Cities is a little different than most Dickens' novels in that it is more action-based and has a bleak, bloody perspective, being that it bases much of its tale on the historical aspects of war. The restless, chaotic nature between the two sides lends its way to various modes of revenge from many characters. Maybe one question explored is "are there times when revenge is acceptable, or does it always destroy the individual?" Also, differences between classes are evidenced as some poor go without while others prosper and live luxurious lives.... One superior aspect to A Tale of Two Cities is the character transformation of Sydney Carton, who goes from basically a drunk to one of the most relevant and important characters in the book. The woman who he has a fondness for, Lucie, seems to wake him up to this change; he wants to do all he can for her, even though she is Charles' wife. Instrumental in leading other characters to safety, he undergoes an awakening, and sacrifices.

Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, who is raised by his overbearing sister, learns through years of experience the meaning of wealth. A strange encounter with a criminal (Magwitch) early in the novel will have greater meaning for Pip's fate. As a youngster, Pip goes to the Satis House with his uncle, where Miss Havisham, a revenge-seeking old lady who was cheated at the altar, resides; Pip, while here, is enchanted by the beautiful, but proud and snobbish Estella. Being poor and fully self-conscious of this, Pip has visions of being a gentleman one day. Maybe then Estella would take a poor lad like him seriously? Pip is eventually given a sum of wealth by a mysterious benefactor, and now sets off to be "educated" on living the social life of a gentleman. Pip will come to learn though Dickens semi-autobiographical coming of age tale that richness does not necessarily make one's life complete. He also goes through the trials of trying to win over Estella. Monetary wealth has its pitfalls, and Pip's real education is learning that moral, loyal, spiritual wealth come from being true to oneself and those who are close to you.

What makes Great Expectations an exceptional novel is Dickens' memorable characters, multi-layered plot, and social commentary about the world. Many characters have depth to them, having faults and weaknesses along with strengths. Even one antagonist, Miss Havisham, who is quite despicable for much of the story, can be sympathized with when we know what she has experienced. She later has a change of heart, and feels a terrible amount of guilt about what she has done to Pip. Dickens also criticizes the state of the classes, with the rich getting richer and the poor being poorer, as well as the usage of class status to judge a person. A prevalent theme is the ills of ambition and wealth, and the loss of self when you "sell out" to become something or someone you are not. Great Expectations is just a wonderful story, also.

I'm so glad that Oprah chose Dickens as her choice. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't anything in the way of an introduction, but still, it is a fantastic deal for two solid classics. You can't go wrong there. For any Dickens fans, or anyone who wants to catch up on the classics, here is a nice buy for them. The font is also a decent size, which may seem to be a minute point, but many of Charles Dickens' novels are produced in microscopic font due to the length of many of his novels.

Excellent collection worth owning, especially for the Victorian Literature fan! Read more ›

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Hmmm. December 17, 2010

By great horse

Format:Paperback

I love Charles Dickens! He is one of the all time greats and all of his books are worth reading. But, I really have to put TOTC at the very bottom of his books. If you are new to Mr. Dickens and are looking for an introduction to his works, I would highly recommend you start with any of the following: Pickwick Papers, David Copperfield, Great Expectations or Bleak House, all of which are far superior to Tale of Two Cities. BY all means read TOTC but if you don't get into just keep in mind there may be far better ways to approach the Master.