Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Grace Moore (University of Otago)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1859

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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Recommended Reading

As the preface to

A Tale of Two Cities

reminds us, the novel was inspired by the magnum opus of Charles Dickens's friend and mentor Thomas Carlyle,

The French Revolution

(1837).

A Tale of Two Cities

was originally published in installments to launch Dickens's new journal

All the Year Round

(which replaced his earlier publication

Household Words

1850-1859) from 30 April 1859 to 26 November of the same year. The novel appeared concurrently in monthly parts, with illustrations by Dickens's long-time collaborator Hablôt Knight Browne.

A Tale of Two Cities

is one of Dickens's most painstakingly researched works, and the author recounts re-reading

The French Revolution

over and over again, whilst digesting “two cartloads” of books that Carlyle ordered for him from the London Library. Early…

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2354 words

Citation: Moore, Grace. "A Tale of Two Cities". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 December 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6942, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Dates

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