A Tale of Two Cities

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Charles Dickens' classic story, A Tale of Two Cities, is set before and during the French Revolution. The people are divided not only by class but by war. It shows the cruelty shown by both sides of French society toward one another and compares these acts to those happening in London in the same time period. Listeners are sure to enjoy this timeless narrative.

Public Domain (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

This is more than a story: It is a performance

This story is probably much easier to listen to than it is to read. I had never read it before so I can't really compare but this audio version is one that you should not miss.

The real excellence here is the pairing of story and narrator. Gildart Jackson must be some kind of vocal genius and I would award him all the prizes for his work on this book. The voices of Jerry Cruncher and Miss Pross are very memorable. There are many highlights but, to me, the best was the scene where Miss Pross confronts Madame Defarge, and wins!

An epic reading of a deeply rich classic.

Gildart Jackson’s finest performance! He revolutionized this quality classic by humanizing each character with definition and uniqueness. I can NOT recommend highly enough.

Masterful Storytelling

Would you listen to A Tale of Two Cities again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to A Tale of Two Cities again because it is great writing. It is also a historical novel that teaches me about the Reign of terror from the people who participated in it. Finally, it is deeply philosophical about good overcoming evil in the darkest of times.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Madame Therese Defarge was a woman to fear even more so than her husband Earnest. Every scene oozes with her hatred of the aristocracy. She terrified me and embodied the Reign of Terror like no one else in the book could.

What does Gildart Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Gildart Jackson inhabits the characters and speak in their voices and accents. Each voice is distinct. This is not a dry reading but a performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I had extreme reactions to this book: those of fear and fascination of the Terror and grief over the loss of so many lives.

Any additional comments?

I am really glad I read this. Dickens breathes life into history with memorable characters and circumstances. I can see why this is the world's most read novel. I highly recommend this recording.

second to none

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Brilliant. Inspired.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Tale of Two Cities?

“You don’t seem to like your cards,” said Sydney calmly. “Will you play your hand?”

Which scene was your favorite?

At the outset when Lucie first meets Dr. Manette. Recalled to Life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Heart wrenching.

Any additional comments?

Anointed writing.