Re: tale of 2 cities
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Fri, 27 Mar 1998 16:29:58 -0100
My dear Sir or Madam,
You will find clues if you look for them. In book three, chapter six, for
instance, I speak of "the decree which banished all emigrants on pain of
Death." This was a law promulgated on 19th September 1793 - the "Law of the
Suspect." It was a hint to my readers to suppose that trial of Darnay was
conducted late in 1793. In the closing paragraphs of the book, I speak of
"One of the most remarkable sufferers by the same axe," who had been
executed "not long before." This is an allusion to Mme Roland, beheaded on
8th November 1793.
As I have said, my friend, there are clues.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
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>Charles Dickens wrote:
>>
>> My dear Sir or Madam,
>>
>> It is a pleasure to be of assistance. As I imagined it, Sydney Carton
>> went to the Guillotine early in 1794 - January or February. The Reign of
>> Terror still prevailed.
>>
>But is there actually any evidence in the novel that it was
>approxiamately right in the midst of the Terror, or is that just how you
>would imagine it to be? Also, when you first mention the king being
>exectued in the chapter "Calm in Storm", was that meant to be a
>significant point, as it was in the real French Revolution? If you could
>possibly explain the signficance of the events surrounding it that would
>be quite helpful. Thank you very much...
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author