by Charles Dickens (1859)

At the end of this labyrinthine, 45-chapter saga, A Tale of Two Cities is, at its core, a tale of one lawyer. Barrister Sydney Carton is a cynical alcoholic whose life takes a dramatic turn when he falls in love. Carton’s friendship with Charles Darnay—a prisoner he is defending—and his subsequent sacrifice at a French guillotine, is set into motion by Carton’s presence, as a law clerk, at the Old Bailey during Darnay’s trial for treason. Their remarkable resemblance is instrumental in Darnay’s release.

Note: Dickens was inspired to write A Tale of Two Cities while acting in a play written by his close friend Wilkie Collins.