History of two cities is a novel by British writer Charles Dickens.
In this historical
novel, life is narrated in the eighteenth century, at the time of the French
Revolution.
At the same time the story takes place in two countries: England and France, and
in the cities of London and Paris, respectively at the time of the dawn of the French
Revolution. The first city would symbolize in some way peace and tranquility, the
simple and orderly life; while the second would represent agitation, challenge and
chaos, the conflict between two worlds at a time when drastic social changes are
announced.
The novel begins with the young Lucia Manette who, together with Mr. Lorry
(former employee of his father), rescues his father whom he believed dead and
takes him to live in England, after spending 18 years in prison and forgotten in the
prison of the Bastille, where he was locked in the dungeon 105 of the north tower
by the bloody family of the Ebremont.
Five years later, Lucia and her father witness the moment when a French
nobleman accused of espionage named Charles Darnay is declared innocent in an
English court. In that trial, Charles was helped by Sidney Carton, a lawyer in bad
manners who has a reputation as a drunkard and former suitor of Lucia, who has
shattered his talent and continues to be in love with her.
A few months later, on the eve of Charles and Lucia's wedding, lawyer Carton
visits her while he is not at home and promises her, knowing that his heart belongs
to Charles, that he will give his life for her, or for someone who she loves That said,
he retires, not without first making him promise to remember him as the good and
dignified man he once was.
The day of the wedding with Lucia, Charles Darnay confesses to the father of his
future wife, that his real name is Evermonte and that he is the last descendant of
that aristocratic and murderous family, but that he denies being one.
The news of the wedding of Charles Darnay comes to the ears of Defarge (a
bartender in Paris) and his wife, who plan to put an end to the entire Evermonte
family.
It is the year 1789 and while Lucia takes care of the daughter she has had with
Charles, the French revolution begins after strong altercations at the Bastille.
Two years later, Charles Darnay must go to Paris to save one of his servants who
has been unjustly accused. But when he arrives in Paris he is taken prisoner,
without rights, due to a law that condemns all emigrants to the death penalty if they
return to France, and taken to prison by the innkeeper Defarge, who is now one of
the leaders. Charles is judged, along with thousands of innocent people who are
beheaded daily in France, but thanks to his father-in-law Dr. Manette (considered a
civil hero for having been imprisoned in the Bastille), he is released. However,
hours later, Darnay is again captured and imprisoned, without Dr. Manette being
able to do anything to help him.
Defarge has denounced Darnay and at the trial, reveals the roll of papers he found
in the prison of the Bastille, in which Dr. Manette revealed to have been called by
the Ebremont to cure a girl, whose family they had murdered. When Dr. Manette
told the authorities, the Ebremont kidnapped him, imprisoning him in prison for 15
long years. From that day, Dr. Manette swore to end up with the last of the guilty of
his misfortune: the Ebremont, and left it written in that letter. Denounced by his
wife's father, Darnay is imprisoned, to die in the guillotine within 24 hours.
Lucia faints after talking to her husband and is helped by lawyer Carton, who has
witnessed everything and now reminds him of the promise he made: the promise to
give his life at any time, for her, or for someone to whom she love
Done this, Carton goes disguised to the tavern of Defarge, where he hears a
revealing conversation between Defarge and his wife. Then it is discovered that
she was that child survivor of the massacre and that her deep hatred towards the
Ebremont led her to take revenge on the last of her descendants. After hearing
this, lawyer Carton sees one of those who accused Charles Darnay, and
blackmails him by telling him that, if he allows him to enter the prison where
Darnay is, he will not accuse him with the authorities for being a double spy
between the two cities (Paris and London).
The spy accepts, and then Carton returns with Lorry and Dr. Manette, who can not
do anything to help Charles. Carton tells Mr. Lorry to follow his instructions without
asking anything, and gives him a pass that allows the doctor to leave Paris with his
daughter and granddaughter. Then he gives him another joker that is in the name
of Sidney Carton and asks him and the others to wait for him the next day at 2
o'clock in the afternoon to go together from Paris before the executions.
And that's how it all ends, with more than fifty executions and our beloved
characters safe.
