A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times".

Charles Dickens story tells of the redemptive powers of love in the face of cruelty, violence and neglect. Written and published in weekly instalments in 1859, it's set in London and Paris before and during the violence of the French Revolution.

The story follows several characters through these events, notably Charles Darnay, a French former aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated English barrister who tries to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette.

The events span eight years, the plot builds powerfully from the moment the story opens, with the coded rumours of Dr Manette being 'restored to life' and Dickens brilliantly orchestrates the wider political picture behind the story of Lucie, Darnay and Carton.
Charles Dickens ...... Robert Lindsay
Jarvis Lorry ...... Jonathan Coy
Miss Pross ...... Alison Steadman
Lucie Manette ...... Lydia Wilson
Dr Alexandre Manette ...... Karl Johnson
Charles Darnay ...... Andrew Scott
Ernest Defarge ...... James Lailey
Therese Defarge ...... Tracy Wiles
Gaspard ...... Simon Bubb
Jerry Cruncher ...... Carl Prekopp
Joe ...... Rikki Lawton
Sydney Carton .... Paul Ready
Barsad .... Gerard McDermott
Court President .... Paul Moriarty
Young Manette .... Christopher Webster
Young Evremonde .... Adam Billington
with Rikki Lawton and Alex Rivers

Written by Charles Dickens
Dramatised by Mike Walker
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole & Jeremy Mortimer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011

Episode 1 00:00
Recalled to Life

Episode 2 44:00
The Old Order
Lucie Manette stands as witness at Charles Darnay's Old Bailey trial for treason, where his defence team includes the dissolute Sydney Carton.

Meanwhile, an incident in a Paris street stirs revolutionary fervour.

Charles Dickens's novel published in 1859 - set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution.

Starring Robert Lindsay and Jonathan Coy.

Episode 3 1:27:52
Two Promises
In a Paris wine shop, information is exchanged about the courtship of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay.

Meanwhile in London, it appears that a wedding is indeed in the air.

Episode 4 2:11:52
The Grindstone
Against the heartfelt wishes of his new wife, Charles Darnay is now determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of a family retainer imprisoned by the revolutionary committee

Episode 5 2:55:52
The Substance and the Shadow
Sydney Carton is in Paris with Lucie and her father, determined to try and save Charles Darnay's life.

Then, an encounter in a Paris street with someone from the import-export trade, may just provide the ghost of a chance.

Charles Dickens's novel published in 1859 - set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution.

Starring Robert Lindsay, Andrew Scott and and Paul Ready.

Dramatised by Mike Walker

Charles Dickens .... Robert Lindsay
Jarvis Lorry .... Jonathan Coy
Miss Pross .... Alison Steadman
Dr Alexandre Manette .... Karl Johnson
Lucie Manette .... Lydia Wilson
Charles Darnay .... Andrew Scott
Sydney Carton .... Paul Ready
Therese Defarge .... Tracy Wiles
Jerry Cruncher .... Carl Prekopp
Barsad .... Gerard McDermott
Court President .... Paul Moriarty
Young Manette .... Christopher Webster
Young Evremonde .... Adam Billington
With Rikki Lawton and Alex Rivers

Music by Lennert Busch.

Directors: Jessica Dromgoole & Jeremy Mortimer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.


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