"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . ." With these famous words, Charles Dickens plunges the reader into one of history's most explosive eras-the French Revolution. From the storming of the Bastille to the relentless drop of the guillotine, Dickens vividly captures the terror and upheaval of that tumultuous period. At the center is the novel's hero, Sydney Carton, a lazy, alcoholic attorney who, inspired by a woman, makes the supreme sacrifice on the bloodstained streets of Paris.One of Dickens's most exciting novels, A Tale of Two Cities is a stirring classic of love, revenge, and resurrection.A Tale of Two Cities: A Story of the French Revolution (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, includes the original illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz). Originally published in the periodical 'All the Year Round', in 31 weekly instalments from April to November 1859. Well over 200 million copies sold, it ranks among the most famous works in the history of fictional literature.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is probably the greatest novelist England has ever produced, the author of such well-known classics as A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life - along with his indelible characters - have made his books beloved by readers the world over.