"Dickens, Charles - A Tale of Two Cities" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickens Charles)

grim meeting with Madame Defarge, who has come armed with pistol and
knife to take her personal revenge. There is a struggle and the
pistol fires, killing Madame Defarge and forever deafening Miss
Pross. Nonetheless, she is able to meet Jerry Cruncher as they have
planned, and escape.

Sydney Carton goes to the guillotine with dignity. (For the first
time Madame Defarge's ringside seat is vacant.) He comforts a little
seamstress, has a final vision of better times ahead, and reflects:
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it
is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

A TALE OF TWO CITIES: TIME SEQUENCE

The series of events related in A Tale of Two Cities begins 18 years
before the novel opens. Through flashbacks and narrations, Dickens
eventually reveals these earlier events, weaving them into the
ongoing action. Here is a chronological reconstruction of the
complete story. Book and chapter references are given in
parentheses.

DECEMBER 1757 Dr. Manette is recruited by the St. Evremonde
brothers to treat a raped young woman and her wounded, dying brother.
Attempting to publicize what he has witnessed, the doctor is
imprisoned (III, 10).

DECEMBER 1767 Dr. Manette writes a journal account of his sufferings
and hides it in his Bastille cell (III, 10).

NOVEMBER 1775 Released to the care of Ernest Defarge, the doctor
remains in a confused state. His daughter, Lucie, and the banker
Jarvis Lorry carry him to London (I, 1-6).

MARCH 1780 Charles Darnay tried and acquitted of treason at the Old
Bailey court in London (II, 2-4).

JULY 1780 Peaceful Sunday at the Manettes' Soho residence. Lucie
hears "hundreds of footsteps," signalling the approach of revolution
in France (II, 6).

SUMMER 1780 Driving in his carriage, Charles Darnay's uncle the
Marquis St. Evremonde runs over and kills Gaspard's child. In the
morning, St. Evremonde is found dead (II, 7-9).

SUMMER 1781 Darnay and Stryver announce hopes of marrying Lucie.
Carton swears love to her (II, 10-13). Roger Cly's funeral. Jerry
Cruncher attempts to rob Cly's grave, but finds it empty (II, 14).
In France the Defarges learn that Gaspard has been hanged. John
Barsad appears as spy for the French monarchy (II, 15-16).