A Tale of Two Cities

Preface

In a brief note, Dickens mentions the source of inspiration for A Tale of Two Cities: a play in which he acted, called The Frozen Deep, written by his friend Wilkie Collins. He adds that he hopes that he can further his readers’ understanding of the French Revolution—“that terrible time”—but that no one can truly hope to surpass Thomas Carlyle’s The French Revolution (published in 1837).