It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A Tale of Two Cities, Dickenss only historical novel, sets personal happiness against the terrors of the French Revolution where the search for social justice sacrifices individual rights. Dr Manette has emerged from eighteen years unjust imprisonment in the Bastille: by an ironic twist of fate, his daughter Lucies marriage draws the family into a terrifying web of circumstance which, it seems, can only end in death...
In this digitised age of shared information it is easy to take for granted the power of the printed word. Here Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as agent of social, political and personal revolution. In the fascinating book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg takes a look at the most important British books in history, and their long-lasting effects which can still be felt throughout the world today. Far from being a study of dry texts...