Charles Dickens's a Tale of Two Cities (Bloom's Notes) (Library Binding)

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In his introduction, Harold Bloom suggests The Tale of Two Cities is unlike any other novel by Charles Dickens. The dark and unrelenting tale is pure storytelling. This text examines the work through some of the best criticism available on the novel. This series is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School. These texts are the ideal aid for all students of literature, presenting concise, easy-to-understand biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on a specific literary work. Also provided are multiple sources for book reports and term papers with a wealth of information on literary works, authors, and major characters.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 78 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791036588
• ISBN-13: 978-0791036587
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,905,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It keeps going, and going, and going...., August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Charles Dickens's a Tale of Two Cities (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Hardcover)

Part of the reason Dickens uses his "flowery" language, despite the effectiveness in creating vivid imagery, was that he was paid by the word. Therefore, his wordiness should not solely be considered an artistic choice, which makes you a bit more sympathetic to how long winded this book can seem. It is however a classic for good reason, with a compelling plot, even without very memorable characters. Still a good book to read for its historical context, and if you can handle the language it, for its good story.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Two Cities, December 2, 1997

By A Customer

Probably the first thing I thought about when I first read Charles Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities was, 'There's WAY too much detail in thing dumb novel!' Well, as I read on it occurred to me that Dicken's uses his amazing flowery language for a reason. It gives you the 'reality' feeling, like you can actually see and picture in your mind what is going on. The novel grabs you in places and lets you feel the sorrow or happiness the characters feel. His rendition of London and Paris are extraordinary because he lets you see the injustice and the anguish that the peasant class felt at that time. The use of detail and language in this novel is one of its most effective elements and truely I would rate this book as one of the best.