# A Tale of Two Cities — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

- [A Tale of Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/a-tale-of-two-cities.md): The opening chapter sets the historical backdrop of the novel, contrasting the social conditions in England and France in 1775, and introducing the themes of resurrection, fate, and social injustice that will unfold.
- [Book the First: Recalled to Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/book-the-first-recalled-to-life.md): The novel opens with the famous line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' setting the stage for a tale of resurrection and revolution. Mr. Jarvis Lorry, an elderly banker at Tellson's Bank, receives a m
- [The Period](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/i-the-period.md): This opening chapter sets the historical context for the novel, contrasting the best and worst of times in 1775 England and France. It introduces the social unrest, crime, and injustice prevalent in both countries, fores
- [The Mail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ii-the-mail.md): On a foggy November night in 1775, the Dover mail coach struggles up Shooter's Hill with three wary passengers. A mysterious horseman named Jerry delivers a message to Mr. Jarvis Lorry, who reads it and replies with the 
- [The Night Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iii-the-night-shadows.md): The chapter reflects on the inherent mystery and secrecy of every human soul, as the mail coach travels through the night. The messenger, Jerry Cruncher, rides back to Tellson's Bank with the cryptic message 'Recalled to

> 44 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=a_tale_of_two_cities_1199kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [IV: The Preparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iv-the-preparation.md)
- [The Wine-Shop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/v-the-wine-shop.md)
- [The Shoemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/vi-the-shoemaker.md)
- [Book the Second: The Golden Thread](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/book-the-second-the-golden-thread.md)
- [Five Years Later](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/i-five-years-later.md)
- [A Sight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ii-a-sight.md)
- [A Disappointment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iii-a-disappointment.md)
- [IV: Congratulatory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iv-congratulatory.md)
- [The Jackal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/v-the-jackal.md)
- [Hundreds of People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/vi-hundreds-of-people.md)
- [VII: Monseigneur in Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/vii-monseigneur-in-town.md)
- [Monseigneur in the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/viii-monseigneur-in-the-country.md)
- [IX: The Gorgon's Head](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ix-the-gorgon-s-head.md)
- [X: Two Promises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/x-two-promises.md)
- [A Companion Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xi-a-companion-picture.md)
- [The Fellow of Delicacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xii-the-fellow-of-delicacy.md)
- [The Fellow of No Delicacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xiii-the-fellow-of-no-delicacy.md)
- [XIV: The Honest Tradesman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xiv-the-honest-tradesman.md)
- [Knitting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xv-knitting.md)
- [Still Knitting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xvi-still-knitting.md)
- [One Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xvii-one-night.md)
- [Nine Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xviii-nine-days.md)
- [An Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xix-an-opinion.md)
- [A Plea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xx-a-plea.md)
- [Echoing Footsteps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xxi-echoing-footsteps.md)
- [The Sea Still Rises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xxii-the-sea-still-rises.md)
- [Fire Rises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xxiii-fire-rises.md)
- [Drawn to the Loadstone Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xxiv-drawn-to-the-loadstone-rock.md)
- [Book the Third: The Track of a Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/book-the-third-the-track-of-a-storm.md)
- [I: In Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/i-in-secret.md)
- [The Grindstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ii-the-grindstone.md)
- [III: The Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iii-the-shadow.md)
- [Calm in Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iv-calm-in-storm.md)
- [The Wood-Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/v-the-wood-sawyer.md)
- [Triumph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/vi-triumph.md)
- [A Knock at the Door](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/vii-a-knock-at-the-door.md)
- [A Hand at Cards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/viii-a-hand-at-cards.md)
- [The Game Made](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ix-the-game-made.md)
- [X: The Substance of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/x-the-substance-of-the-shadow.md)
- [Dusk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xi-dusk.md)
- [Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xii-darkness.md)
- [Fifty-Two](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xiii-fifty-two.md)
- [The Knitting Done](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xiv-the-knitting-done.md)
- [The Footsteps Die Out Forever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xv-the-footsteps-die-out-forever.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters