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  • A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos]

  • By: Charles Dickens
  • Narrated by: Anton Lesser
  • Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (114 ratings)

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A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos]

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
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Summary

"It was the best of times and the worst of times." In one of the most famous openings of any novel, Dickens masterfully presents the turmoil of the French Revolution, which is the backdrop for a novel of love, patience, hope, and self-sacrifice. This version is read by Anton Lesser, whose award-winning Dickens recordings in their abridged form has now resulted in the opportunity to read the full unabridged text. His singular characterizations led to him being chosen by Peter Ackroyd to play Dickens himself in the major TV account of the writer.
Click here to see all the titles in our Charles Dickens collection.
Public Domain (P)2005 Naxos Audiobooks Ltd.

What listeners say about A Tale of Two Cities [Naxos]

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

It is a far far better thing ...

This is a tale of love and redemption superbly narrated by Anton Lesser. Probably best known for its opening and closing lines it charts the lives of a group of characters in the years leading up to the French Revolution and the subsequent Terror. Dickens' political beliefs shine through as he highlights the social disparities between the peasantry and the aristocracy that contributed to the revolution in France whilst condemning the brutality and vidictiveness of its after effects. Written in the 1850's the French revolution was part of history, but only quite recent history and Dickens uses this novel to sound a warning against the inhumanities he saw around him at that time in England.

As usual his heroine is unfeasibly angelic and his hero unfeasibly noble but unlike other Dickens' novels the quota of his 'comic' characters is much reduced giving this tale more gravity than is usual in his work. The characterisations are realised beautifuuly by Lesser's narration, enhancing rather than detracting from the original work.

One word of caution however, be careful where you are as you listen to final chapter!

4 people found this helpful

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I'm not eloquent enough ...

... To properly praise the author and narrator, so I will not embarrass myself by trying. All I can do is press the five stars, like some thumbprint. And thank you both.

3 people found this helpful

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Brilliant Anton Lesser, as always

Anton Lesser is a perfect reader of Dickens: every measured word, the light, the funny and the sad, the broken. The end was particularly good. I had forgotten so much was saved if the story to the last quarter. Knowing what was coming made it even more powerful I think. In Covid times, to hear the repetition of ‘i am the resurrection and the life’ as Sydney Carton nears his end was most moving to me. Thank you.

2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and narrator

Another great classic book. Another outstanding performance by Anton lesser. One of my favourite narrators.

1 person found this helpful

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Brilliant Dickens, Brilliant Lesser

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

In a few years I will listen to a Tale of Two Cities again, to enjoy the brilliance of writer and narrator.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The fight scene between Madame Defarge and Miss Pross, surely the source of the final fight scene in Alien.

1 person found this helpful

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Excellent

The reading, the accents, the character interpretations were outstanding. Anton Lesser is a superb reader of Dickens. Highly recommended

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fabulous

Anton, you read this beautifully. Thank you. I enjoyed every word. You are a narrator extraordinaire.

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Nothing beats an unabridged Dickens

What a great self isolation treat! Find yourselves transported back through history. Dickens is the master 3D story teller, creating a world as clear in your head as any film. Anton Lesser reads magnificently.

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Better than TV or the cinema!

You don't need a full cast of actors, a screen or a stage to thoroughly enjoy this read. The brilliance of Dickens' storytelling skill is matched by Anton Lesser's ability to inhabit each and every character with such fullness of personality, nuance, quirk and voice that it plays out in your mind's eye perfectly clearly. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Breathtakingly good!

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Dickens at his supreme best.

This story has a bit of everything that Dickens does so well. Wonderful, masterful, genius!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Lee Chemel
  • 31-01-09

Exquisite

When Anton Lesser and DIckens come together it is a gift. Even if you know this story, even if you have read it, you will rediscover it through the brilliance of this superlative actor who breathes life into each character with such passion and specificity that you are sure he must be channeling the spirit of each one. He illuminates Dickens. Toward the end my heart was pounding even though I knew the outcome. How is this possible? Because of Anton Lesser.

28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 30-07-10

Wonderful!

I couldn't agree with the previous reviewer more. Anton Lesser channels Dickens in his reading of this story. The different characters come to life under his skillful narration. When Jerry Cruncher was defending his "other job" to Mr. Lorry I was open-mouthed in admiration.

This book was required reading for me in high school and I resented it until I found, to my amazement, that I really liked it. That was too many years ago to count. I've re-read it since and now I've listened to this wonderful version. This is a book for the ages. It's a far, far better thing.

8 people found this helpful

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  • NorthFLADiver
  • 02-02-13

Absolutely Remarkable!

The performance makes an already wonderful story even more remarkable. The reader switches between male and female voices with such ease that the listener forgets that only one person is reading. It is a long, 19th century novel, but it was easily digested in this format. I was extremely impressed and hated when it ended. If Academy Awards were presented for book reading, Anton Lesser would be a shoe-in to win.

7 people found this helpful

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  • GH
  • 11-05-12

Classic Home Run

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

Absolutely, already have. I read this book in high school and just was not mature enough to appreciate it. When I listened to it, I forget that the first line and the last line of the novel are among the most famous in literature history. You just have to listen to this book; you’ll fall in love with dickens over again and buy more of his books for listening.

7 people found this helpful

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  • Danielle B.
  • 25-10-15

The first time I've ever shopped by narrator...

When I decided to listen to this masterpiece on audio, I knew that it had to be delivered by the right narrator. I have listened to many audiobooks, over a period of decades, but I have never shopped for an audiobook based on the narrator before.

I looked at all the options on Audible (I think there were more than a dozen), and started by reading the reviews that mentioned narrators, by which process I managed to weed out several options. I listened to samples of the remaining options, and finally for my short list I listened to samples of other works read by those narrators. I ended up choosing - from a handful of excellent options - this version read by Anton Lesser, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of the listening experience.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, I am still choked up right now from hearing the final chapter, and all the more because this narrator allowed me to feel fully immersed in the story through his clear, accurate pronunciations and his exceptional and wholly consistent characterizations of the amazing and colourful characters in this epic story.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Kimberly Ligocki
  • 29-11-11

Excellent performance of a great classic

I read this in high school and again in my 20s and really loved it then. But it is a whole new experience to listen to it. And Anton Lesser's superb performance is a tour de force - he is a one-man Dickens band, easily moving between the voices of old and young men and women of different classes and backgrounds. This is the second of his Dickens' performances I have purchased - the other was "Little Dorritt" - and I am impressed by his ability to sweep me along with his own excitement in the story. Just a great listen.

4 people found this helpful

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  • S. Elder
  • 21-10-19

I may not be the first to say this

But I LOVED this book! I struggled through it in high school, but hearing Anton Lesser read it gave it a whole new dimension.

I think I would listen to it again. Great story, great characters, and funny British understatement.

Think I will listen to all the “Lesser” Dickens.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Cynthia
  • 03-09-12

Masterful Narration

What made the experience of listening to A Tale of Two Cities the most enjoyable?

Listening to DIckens is a special experience. I've switched between the written word and Audible as I've moved through the book, and I've newly appreciated how much I enjoy being read to, especially by someone as masterful as this narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

While I've read other Dickens, I'd never gotten around to A Tale of Two Cities and its a wonderful story of the French Revolution.

What about Anton Lesser’s performance did you like?

He captures the voices, the cadence, and the emotion. It's not "read," it is "performed."

2 people found this helpful

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  • Swissmiss
  • 05-07-12

Loved every word

One of my favorite Dickens novels. Extraordinary story, marvellous narrator. Highly recommend this edition.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Alison Yates
  • 23-03-11

This is the one!

OK there is about 20 different variations and readers of this book but this is the one! The narrator, Anton Lester, is an artist with his pretrial of characters. Good timing, vocalization overall an excellent recording. Oh yes, that story is stellar by all accounts.

2 people found this helpful