Wow. I just finished A Tale of Two Cities for the second time, and I think "wow" is the best way to describe it. This book was always my favorite by Charles Dickens, and now it's officially my favorite classic ever.

You've probably all heard of A Tale of Two Cities. It's one of Dickens' most famous books, and its first and last lines might be his most famous quotes. For those of you who aren't familiar with the story, though, I'll try to summarize it as briefly as possible.

The book begins with a kindly banker, Mr. Lorry, traveling to France to rescue a man who was unjustly held prisoner in the Bastille for 18 years, and to reunite him with his daughter. The man has lost his mind, but his daughter, Lucie Manette, is eventually able to bring him to his senses, and they come to live happily in England together. After a few years they meet two new characters, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look alike but have seemingly opposite personalities. Their lives become entwined with the Manettes when both men fall in love with Lucie. Meanwhile, a couple called the Defarges and their army of "Jaques" are preparing for a revolution in France.

My family has owned A Tale of Two Cities for a long time, but it took me a while before I could work up the courage to read past that daunting first sentence ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of reason, it was the age of foolishness", and on and on). But once I got beyond that, the rest of the book was well worth it. I read it once on my own, and just recently my dad read it to me and my brothers. One of the signs of a truly great book is that it's just as good the second time you read it. I enjoyed this book even better the second time around, so it must be good!

First of all, A Tale of Two Cities is incredibly well-written. Did I mention that Charles Dickens was a genius? He uses metaphors and foreshadowing brilliantly, especially in the first half of the book. He has a way of describing a scene that puts the reader right there, in the courtrooms of London or the wild streets of Paris. The characters are also extremely vivid. How can anyone forget someone like Miss Pross, or Madame Defarge, or Sydney Carton once they've met them?

It's not just the way the characters are portrayed that makes me love them, though. It's what Charles Dickens does with those characters. A Tale of Two Cities is a story about redemption and resurrection. It is not a pretty book. There wasn't much good in the French Revolution - it was all about hatred and revenge. The aristocrats were incredibly cruel to the people, and when the people struck back, they were just as cruel to the aristocrats. Dickens describes the evil of both sides very vividly sometimes. However, in the midst of this vicious cycle, the nobility of the good characters shines all the more. The wickedness and hate of people like Madame Defarge, the Vengeance, and Jaques Three only makes people like Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, and even Miss Pross, look better.

I don't know whether or not Charles Dickens was a Christian. I've certainly never heard that he was. But, whether he intended it or not, there are some decidedly Christian themes in this book. John 11:25-26 (the verse that says "I am the resurrection and the life") is quoted several times toward the end, and resurrection is a powerful theme throughout the story. As I've said before, I believe a story is only good so far as it reflects the Story of the gospel, and I think A Tale of Two Cities does that. It shows evil for what it is, but it also shows that there is something stronger than evil. Love conquers hate. Selflessness triumphs over vengeance. Courage is stronger than fear. Combine this worldview with a Christ-like hero and some very moving writing, and you have a wonderful classic.

A Tale of Two Cities is another difficult, but rewarding, book. I know that there are some awfully long sentences in there, but I promise that the story is worth reading those dry passages for. I highly recommend this book to any teenager or adult who is willing to tackle "the best of times and the worst of times".