A Tale of Two Cities is a novel by Charles Dickens that was first published in 1859. Read key facts, a plot summary, and important quotes.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of A Tale of Two Cities, scene by scene break-downs, and more.
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Summary & Analysis
- Preface
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 1–4
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 5–6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 1–4
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 5–6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 7–9
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 10–13
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 14–17
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 18–21
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 22–24
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 1–5
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 6–10
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 11–15
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in A Tale of Two Cities and in-depth analyses of Sydney Carton, Madame Defarge, Doctor Manette, Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette, and more.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in A Tale of Two Cities, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Questions & Answers
Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about A Tale of Two Cities and find the answers you need.
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes.
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By Theme
- Revolution
- Sacrifice
- Imprisonment
- Class
- Justice
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By Section
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 1-4
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 5-6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 1-4
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 5-6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 7-9
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 10-13
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 14-17
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 18-21
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 22-24
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 1-5
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 6-10
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 11-15
Quick Quizzes
Test your knowledge of A Tale of Two Cities with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.
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Book
- Full Book Quiz
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 1-4
- Book the First: Recalled to Life Chapters 5-6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 1-4
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 5-6
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 7-9
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 10-13
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 14-17
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 18-21
- Book the Second: The Golden Thread Chapters 22-24
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 1-5
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 6-10
- Book the Third: The Track of a Storm Chapters 11-15
Essays
Get ready to ace your A Tale of Two Cities paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Test your knowledge of A Tale of Two Cities with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.
