This Norton Critical Edition includes: The first edition of the novel (1859) accompanied by twenty-seven illustrations, from original images by Halbot Knight Browne ("Phiz") to cartoons from The Simpsons. An expansive introduction and detailed explanatory annotations by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst. Thematically organized contextual materials designed to promote classroom discussion. Topics include "Dickens on France and the French," "Revolution and Aftermath," "Living Graves," "Learning French," "The Composition of A Tale of Two Cities," and "Theatrical Versions." Fourteen major critical assessments of A Tale of Two Cities: five contemporary reviews and nine modern essays. A chronology and a selected bibliography. About the Series Read by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format--annotated text, contexts, and criticism--helps students to better understand, analyze, and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need.