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

The opening words of Charles Dickens' great French Revolution romance set the scene for a heart-stopping historical adventure that dashes back and forth between London and Paris during the nightmare of Terror. Charles Dance stars as Carton in this Sony-award winning BBC Radio 4 dramatization that captures the joy and anguish of those corrupt and turbulent times.

Seven episodes of approx one hour each.

Episode 1:

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It is 1775 and in Paris, an old man makes shoes in an attic.

Episode 2:

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Charles Darnay stands on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of treason. Jerry Cruncher does not believe Charles can be saved.

Episode 3:

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An accident involving Monsieur Le Marquis inflames the growing anger of the residents of Paris.

Episode 4:

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Revolution brews in France, and while Madame Defarge continues her knitting, Carton confesses his inner feelings.

Episode 5:

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As the Bastille falls, the echoing footsteps of the mob are heard as far away as London.

Episode 6:

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Darnay is in Paris and in great danger. Lucie and the others set out to rescue him. Can the Defarges be trusted?

Episode 7:

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Darnay has been re-arrested and is now back in prison. Mr Carton plans to help, but he must make a huge sacrifice.

Dramatised by Nick McCarty

Directed By Ian Cotterell

With:

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Charles Dance

John Duttine

Charlotte Attenborough

Barbara Leigh-Hunt

John Moffatt

Richard Pasco

Maurice Denham

英国小说家，出生于海军小职员家庭，10岁时全家被迫迁入负债者监狱，11岁就承担起繁重的家务劳动。曾在皮鞋作坊当学徒，16岁时在律师事务所当缮写员，后担任报社采访记者。他只上过几年学，全靠刻苦自学和艰辛劳动成为知名作家。

他生活在英国由半封建社会向工业资本主义社会的过渡时期。其作品广泛而深刻地描写这时期社会生活的各个方面，鲜明而生动地刻画了各阶层的代表人物形象，并从人道主义出发对各种丑恶的社会现象及其代表人物进行揭露批判，对劳动人民的苦难及其反抗斗争给以同情和支持。但同时他也宣扬以“仁爱”为中心的忍让宽恕和阶级调和思想。对劳动人民的反抗斗争抱行动上支持而道德上否定的矛盾态度。表现了他的现实主义的强大力量和软弱空想。

狄更斯一生共创作了14部长篇小说，许多中、短篇小说和杂文、游记、戏剧、小品。其中最著名的作品是描写劳资矛盾的长篇代表作《艰难时代》（1854）和描写1789年法国革命的另一篇代表作《双城记》（1859）。前者展示了工业资本家对工人的残酷剥削和压迫，描写了工人阶级的团结斗争，并批判了为资本家剥削辩护的自由竞争原则和功利主义学说。后者以法国贵族的荒淫残暴、人民群众的重重苦难和法国大革命的历史威力，来影射当时的英国社会现实，预示这场“可怕的大火”也将在法国重演。其他作品有《奥列佛·特维斯特》（又译《雾都孤儿》1838）、《老古玩店》（1841），《董贝父子》（1848），《大卫·科波菲尔》（1850）和《远大前程》（1861），等等。

狄更斯是19世纪英国现实主义文学的主要代表。艺术上以妙趣横生的幽默、细致入微的心理分析，以及现实主义描写与浪漫主义气氛的有机结合著称。马克思把他和萨克雷等称誉为英国的“一批杰出的小说家”。