《双城记》简介: 　　ATaleofTwoCitiesoccupiesacentralplaceinthecanonofCharlesDickens'sworks.ThisnoveloftheFrenchRevolutionwasoriginallyserializedintheauthor'sownperiodicalAlltheYearRound.Weeklypublicationofchapters1-3ofBook1beganonApril30,1859.Inaninnovativemove,Dickenssimultaneouslyreleasedinstallmentsofthenovelonamonthlybasis,beginningwithallofBook1inJuneandconcludingwiththelasteightchaptersofBook3inDecember.Dickenstookadvantageofthenovel'sserialpublicationtoexperimentwithcharacterization,plot,andtheme.HedescribedtheworkinalettertohisfriendJohnForster,citedinRudiGlancy'sATaleofTwoCities:Dickens'sRevolutionaryNovel,as"apicturesquestoryrisingineverychapter,withcharacterstruetonature,butwhomthestoryshouldexpressmorethantheyshouldexpressthemselvesbydialogue."ThenovelthatemergedfromhisexperimentationisnowregardedasoneofDickens'smostpopularandmostinnovativeworks.