When I think of classic literature one of the first books that comes to mind is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I read this book as a teenager and credit it as one of the books that piqued my interest in the French Revolution. Now many years later I returned to this book to read it again to see if it was still as good as I remembered it being.
Dickens begins the book with one of the most recognizable lines in literature “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The story is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, although it begins much earlier in 1775 when we are introduced to Mr. Jarvis Lorry an employee of Tellson’s Bank a self described “man of business.”
Mr. Lorry meets with Miss Manette to tell her that her father whom she has never met, because she was told he had died, is alive and has been released from a wrongful imprisonment in France. Mr. Lorry accompanies Miss Manette to France to reunite her with her father and bring them both back to England.
Dickens does a good job of weaving English and French characters throughout the novel. There is a good cast of characters that make the book enjoyable. He does a great job of illustrating the actions of those who are gripped by the depths of love and hate.
Overall Dickens writes a compelling story that had my attention until the end. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Lessons From the Jackal will return next week. Based on the first five days are there any thoughts you want to share? Are there any changes you would like to see? What do you like most about the course? What do you like least? Any feedback would be great as a finalize the next lessons in the series.
Five days ago, we began with a simple question: How do you measure potential?
Over the course of this week, Sydney Carton has challenged us to reconsider what potential really means.
We met a man whose careless appearance concealed remarkable intelligence. We watched him make observations that others overlooked, only to receive little recognition for his contributions.
We discovered a man who recognized in Charles Darnay a reflection of what he might have become, yet seemed unwilling or unable to pursue that possibility.
We examined his relationship with Mr. Stryver and considered what it means to become a jackal: someone who possesses the ability to contribute to another person’s success while neglecting the pursuit of his own.
Finally, we learned that Carton’s habits began long before his professional career. Even as a schoolboy, he devoted his abilities to completing the work of others while neglecting his own.
Carton attributes some of his disappointments to bad luck. Perhaps circumstances have indeed worked ...
