双城记的Book Review 英文读后感(1000左右)

Book Review: A Tale of Two Cities

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A Tale of Two Cities (published in 1859) is one of the greatest novels on the

French Revolution. Partly inspired by Thomas Carlyle’s French Revolution, it is a

mammoth work of imagination, giving a fictional account of the events and causes

leading up to that fateful summer of 1789. It is quite difficult to write about the novels

written by Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870). He was an British

novelist, generally was considered the greatest of the Victorian period. when he was

12 years old, his father was put in prison, he had to withdraw from school and forced

to work in a factory. As a young man, he worked as a reporter. His fiction career

began with short pieces reprinted as Sketches by “Boz” (1836). A Tale of Two Cities

(1859) appeared in the period when he achieved great popularity for his public

readings. Dickens's works are characterized by an encyclopaedic knowledge of

London, pathos, a vein of the macabre, a pervasive spirit of benevolence and geniality,

inexhaustible powers of character creation, an acute ear for characteristic speech, and

a highly individual and inventive prose style.

It is the year 1775, and England and France are undergoing a period of social

upheaval and turmoil. The forces that are leading to revolution in France are colliding

with a circle of people in England, causing their destinies to be irrevocably

intertwined, Dr. Manette was picked up and sent to the Bastille prison by the noble

Marquis St. Evremonde. 18 years after in 1775, his only daughter, Lucie Manette, fell

in love with Charles Darnay, the nephew of the Marquis St. Evremonde, which

abandoned the noble degree to live by himself. “Let the past be past.” Thought Dr.

Marnette, and was preparing to have a happy new life with his daughter and her

husband. But the revolution of France broke, and because of his family, Charles

Darnay was denounced by a letter which was wrote by Dr. Marnette himself 18 years

ago. But Sydney Carton, the lawyer of England, who took after Charles very much,

finally was killed instead by his own mind.

Alexandre Manette made a deep impression on me, he was a kind doctor with

mercy. He once saw the Evremondes’ violence to the slaves eighteen years ago, he

wanted to report their crimes. But unfortunately, the Evremondes framed Manette in

the Bastille Prison. Also according to the description of the time he just played: “He

had a white beard, raggedly cut, but not very long, a hollow face, and exceedingly

bright eyes. The hollowness and thinness of his face would have caused them to look

large, under his yet dark eyebrows and his confused white hair, though they had been

really otherwise; but, they were naturally large, and looked un-naturally so. His

yellow rags of shirt lay open at the throat, and showed his body to be withered and

worn (2008,p33).” We can see the faintness was not the faintness of physical

weakness and we can deeply imagine how this old man had been harmed. In addition

when you asked him questions, his first words are always "what do you

say?(2008,p5,p33...)", we can infer that he had used to talking to nobody everyday

and he could not reflect others' words quickly. All these had implied that his character

and spirit were much easier to be influenced especially when he met with the loneliness. From`I give the promise,' said the Doctor, `without any condition. I believe

your object to be, purely and truthfully, as you have stated it. I believe your intention

is to perpetuate, and not to weaken, the ties between me and my other and far dearer

self. If she should ever tell me that you are essential to her perfect happiness, I will

give her to you. If there were--Charles Darnay, if there were---'(2008, p117). we can

see that although he was arrested in Bastille Prison by the Evremondes, he did not

hate Darnay when he learned Darnay's true identity. Due to Lucy's love to Darnay,

Manette did not want to see his daughter suffering from losing her lover, he decided to

forgive Darnay and loved him from the bottom of hos heart. It meant that Manette had

already laid down his hatred to the Evremonde and the power of love and forgiveness

is really strong.

Lucy Manette is my favorite protagonist in this story, she was Manette's daughter

and Darnay's wife. She was so sweet and beautiful and he played an important part in

the story. When Manette was rescued from the Bastille, Lucy took good care of her

father with all her heart [Only his daughter had the power of charming this black

brooding from his mind. She was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond

his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of

her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him almost

always(2008,p67)]. With her care, Manette turned from a crazy, silent old man into

a beloved and supportive father. Besides, when she learned that her husband was

caught by the revolutionists, she was so brave that brought her children to France to

save her husband. From that time, in all weathers, she waited there two hours. As the

clock struck two, she was there, and at four she turned resignedly away. When it was

not too wet or inclement for her child to be with her, they went together; at other times

she was alone; but she never missed a single day(2008,p242). From that we can see

she was not only a sweet and beautiful girl, but also a persevered and determined

woman when facing difficulties.

Parents need to know that Charles Dickens' masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities,

sets a riveting story of romantic and familial love against the violent drama of the

French Revolution. The personal and the political are deeply connected, and

complicated, and additional historical background regarding the French monarchy,

feudal system, and French Revolution will help young readers appreciate the novel.

It's also worth noting that though this is one of Dickens' best-loved works, it is

atypical of the author in some ways. A Tale of Two Cities has fewer humorous,

colorful characters than others of his most-read books (other than the Crunchers), and

the plot is more grand and far-reaching.

In the beginning as the novel written: It was the best of times, it was the worst of

times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of

belief, it was the epoch of incredulity it was the season of Light, it was the season of

Darkness,it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything

before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all

going direct the other way. Charles Dickens is a humanitarian, he advocates the

universal love and equality between human beings, everyone should love people and

only the humanitarianism can save this terrible society.