A Classic Story

Alexandre Manette is a doctor. He was sent to prison for 18 years. At that time he was married, and had a 2 year old daughter named Lucie Manette. Lucie grows up believing her father is dead. Dr. Manette "lost his mind" while in prison. During those 18 years, Dr. Manette learned to make shoes. He continues this hobby after he gets out of prison.
Another major character is Charles Darney. Charles is the nephew of Marquis St. Evermonde, who is a nobleman in France. Charles leaves France to escape his family's bad reputation. He later marries Lucie.
A Tale of Two Cities begins in 1775 and continues for almost 2 decades. During this time, the American Revolution was going on, and the French Revolution was beginning. The story takes place in London, England, and Paris, France. Paris is where Dr. Manette was imprisoned. Charles Darney meets, and marries Lucie in London.
Jarvis Lorry is a family friend of the Manette's. He is a banker, and responsible for the Manette's accounts. Jarvis meets Lucie in Dover. He tells Lucie that her father is not dead, as she had thought. Lucie and Jarvis go to Paris to bring Dr. Manette back to London, after he gets out of prison.
The book continues with Lucie caring for her father, trying to improve his health. Dr. Manette recovers, and is able to be a doctor again. Five years pass, and Dr. Manette, Lucie, and Jarvis are asked to testify at the treason trial of Charles Darney in London. With the help of a lawyer, Sidney Carton, Charles is found not guilty of treason.
In the middle of the book, both Charles and Sidney are interested in Lucie. Sidney does not feel worthy of Lucie's love, but promises to "lay down his life for her." Charles and Lucie get married. Charles decides to go to France, and visits his uncle, the Marquis. While he is there, his uncle is murdered.
The book ends with Charles going back to Paris again, to help a loyal servant. Charles is imprisoned, released, and imprisoned again. At his trial, papers are read that were written by Dr. Manette while he was in prison. The papers expose the Marquis, and his twin brother, of cruelty to peasants. The twin brother is Charles's father. This time Charles is found guilty. Sidney Carton, who looks just like Charles, switches places with Charles in prison. Sidney dies in order to save Lucie from suffering the death of her husband.
I really enjoyed this book. However, I believe it's a book you need to read several times to understand the story, and pick up all the details. For example, at the beginning of the book, you don't know why Dr. Manette was put it prison. It's not until the end of the book, that you learn Dr. Manette's was imprisoned because of the Marquis and his brother. I also didn't understand why Dr. Manette started making shoes again right after Lucie and Charles got married. It took me a while to realize Dr. Manette was upset, because his daughter married into the family that had sent him to prison.