Re: Request for info
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 15:28:40 -0100
My dear Miss Lui,
It is the duty of a novelist who sets a story amid great events of the
past, I believe, to offer his readers as clear and convincing an account of
those events as it is possible to do. I know that when I was writing "A
Tale of Two Cities," I kept Mr Carlyle's admirable history of the French
Revolution by me, and used it repeatedly to check details and dates. Indeed
Mr Carlyle himself, an old and valued friend, was good enought to advise me.
Thanks to him, I procured fascinating first-hand accounts of the revolution
from the London Library: such books as Louis-Sebastien Mercier's "Le Tableau
de Paris," and Arthur Young's "Travels in France during the Years 1787, 1788
and 1789."
My chapter "Monseigneur in Town" was written while I had certain parts of
Mercier's book in mind. The pitiful state of French agriculture, as
described in my chapter "Monseigneur in the Country," owes something to my
reading of Young's book. I scarcely need tell you that the storming of the
Bastille, at which Defarges was present, and the murder of Foulon, were real
historical events. Mercier's "Tableau de Paris" describes an aged prisoner
released after the storming of the Bastille, whom you will find to resemble
in many points my Dr Manette. The Carmagnole was a real dance performed by
the revolutionary mob.
Does this give you material to use?
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
________________________________________________________________________________
>
>Hello!
> I am doing a project that requires me to relate the French revolution
>and the story of 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. Any
>information concerning this topic will be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thank you very much for your time!
>
>Jane
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author