Tale of Two Cities plot summary.
About French Revolution and the lives of some people who get caught up
in it
o Takes place over 17 years.
o From 1775-1792, with flashbacks going back even further.
o Shows injustice leading to the revolution and the consequences.
o Also, In many ways a Christian allegory about sacrifice and spiritual
redemption
The book begins one night in 1775.
o Jarvis Lorry in a mail coach on the way to dover England, works for
Tellson’s bank to London. Leaving from Paris to Dover on business
o Jerry Cruncher catches up to him and gives him a note that says wait
at Dover for mademoiselle, Mr. Lorry says Jerry should reply with the
phrase ‘recall to life.’
o The next day, Mr. Lorry meets with Lucie Manette.
She thinks there is some news about property belonging to her
father whom she thinks died 18 years ago.
Mr. Lorry informs her that her father is alive.
He was imprisoned in France.
Lucie's mother died when Lucie was 2, so Lucie grew up
thinking her parents were gone forever.
o But now Mr. Lorry is going to take her to see her
father.
Story shifts to the poor Paris neighborhood of St Antoine
o A wine cask has broken open in the street.
Frenzy ensues as people rush to drink as much wine as they can.
o Inside the wine shop where the cask was supposed to be delivered…
M and MM Defarge, owners of the shop are talking to 3 men.
The men all refer to each other as Jacques (Code name that
identifies them as revolutionaries).
Mr. Lorry and Lucie Manette are there?
M Defarge leads them upstairs.
In a small room is Lucie's father, Dr Manette.
He can barely speak and does nothing but obsessively make
shoes.
o A skill he taught himself in the Bastille, where he was
locked up.
o He only refers to himself as 105 north tower which is the
cell, he was held in.
o He does not know Lucie though she reminds him of his
wife.
o He does not recognize Mr. Lorry, his old friend.
About French Revolution and the lives of some people who get caught up
in it
o Takes place over 17 years.
o From 1775-1792, with flashbacks going back even further.
o Shows injustice leading to the revolution and the consequences.
o Also, In many ways a Christian allegory about sacrifice and spiritual
redemption
The book begins one night in 1775.
o Jarvis Lorry in a mail coach on the way to dover England, works for
Tellson’s bank to London. Leaving from Paris to Dover on business
o Jerry Cruncher catches up to him and gives him a note that says wait
at Dover for mademoiselle, Mr. Lorry says Jerry should reply with the
phrase ‘recall to life.’
o The next day, Mr. Lorry meets with Lucie Manette.
She thinks there is some news about property belonging to her
father whom she thinks died 18 years ago.
Mr. Lorry informs her that her father is alive.
He was imprisoned in France.
Lucie's mother died when Lucie was 2, so Lucie grew up
thinking her parents were gone forever.
o But now Mr. Lorry is going to take her to see her
father.
Story shifts to the poor Paris neighborhood of St Antoine
o A wine cask has broken open in the street.
Frenzy ensues as people rush to drink as much wine as they can.
o Inside the wine shop where the cask was supposed to be delivered…
M and MM Defarge, owners of the shop are talking to 3 men.
The men all refer to each other as Jacques (Code name that
identifies them as revolutionaries).
Mr. Lorry and Lucie Manette are there?
M Defarge leads them upstairs.
In a small room is Lucie's father, Dr Manette.
He can barely speak and does nothing but obsessively make
shoes.
o A skill he taught himself in the Bastille, where he was
locked up.
o He only refers to himself as 105 north tower which is the
cell, he was held in.
o He does not know Lucie though she reminds him of his
wife.
o He does not recognize Mr. Lorry, his old friend.
