A Tale Of Two Cities / Great Expectations: Two Novels (1901) - Plot & Excerpts
Phillip Pirrip the Second, or Pip, is a young boy in the Kent Marshes. Simple plot, simple characters that are naturally not so simple as it goes on. (Quick note: No, I didn't read A Tale of Two Cities in this edition, I only borrowed it from the library for the cover).In essence a Dickensian tale lesser so about expectations than about how outer trappings are immaterial compared with honest kindness and kindheartedness. Quite difficult to read, incidentally, but almost totally good. Plus we've got the outstanding Dickens' names, too. Abel Magwitch? Bentley Drummle? I have just finished A Tale of Two Cities and I am in awe of the story and the man that wrote it. The story of love, revolution, friendship,and sacrifice.It is a relevant today as it was on publication in serial form in 1859.Some things shouldn't be forgotten and this story is one of those things. The idea that the oppressed came to be the oppressors is a frighteningly real one. The power mad woman whose very words can bring someone to there death, The beautiful and loving wife one so far removed from the other but in this story of light and dark good and bad right and wrong there are many comparisons to be drawn.I cried at the end and during for the strength of some of the characters and the sheer will of others to do what needed to be done. I am rambling a little and will possibly edit this or do a full review in days to come. If not then all I can say is read this, savor the writing the the prose the wonderful literature that I along with countless millions have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy because though this was my first Dickens rest assured it will not be my last. ps Will read the second book in the volume soon I have Great Expectations of it :)Great Expectations This started off so well... In the first book we are introduced to Pip an orphan who is being 'brought up by hand' by his cruel to the extreme older sister and her blacksmith husband Joe who is lovely and tries to help Pip when his sister lays into him. The meeting in the graveyard between Pip and 'The prisoner' is a truely scary one and the writing so descriptive I read over it twice just because... Pip is in time summoned to the house of the rich if eccentric Miss Havisham where he meets the beautiful cold and proud Estella her adopted daughter. Miss Havisham is a wonderously described character the likes of which I had never read of before and I love her to bits,, I see all her things and her wedding paraphernalia all rotted and wasted. This first book of the 3 is a work of art for me. (I read in pictures)towards the end of part 1 Pip discovers he has been given some money by a secret benefactor and travels to London leaving his family, Estella and his old life behind with Great Expectations.The second part of the the story book 2 is about Pips life in London where he meets the Pocket family very odd and wittily described and his guardian Mr Jaggers but really not much happens in this part of the story.Pip is growing up making friends, deliberating on who his benefactor may be and not a lot else really.Part 3 was where the action is taken up again and we find out that his new life is the direct result of something that happened in part 1.I really enjoyed this book and I loved some of the characters Miss Havisham and the loony Mrs Pocket so obsessed with the fact that she thinks she is descended from royalty that all she does all day is read a book about titles and her plethora of children are not being brought up or dragged up but are literally 'tumbling up'.The book is long and has taken me an age to read due to holidays birthdays and life in general getting in the way.I will not say anymore about the end part other than it was as it should be and I felt satisfied with it.All in all a very character filled book and sublime writing. I liked it very much but didn't love it like I do ToTC so this for me is ****
What do You think about A Tale Of Two Cities / Great Expectations: Two Novels (1901)?
my favorite novel from high school. and my favorite dickens by far.
—mamatimi
Maybe the bloodiest romance novel I have ever read.
—vvchrsty
I know it's a "classic", but it's a hard read.
—mikko
