A Tale of Two Cities — The Christmas Gift Edition (eBook) | Dickens 1859 Text, Twelve Nights Christmas Reading Plan, Full Companion

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…" The Christmas Gift Edition of Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities as an eBook (EPUB, yours to keep) — the complete novel of London and Paris, of Dr Manette recalled to life, of the golden thread and the rising sea.

THE TEXT —

the complete, unabridged novel in the text of the 1859 first book edition, all forty-five chapters, with Dickens's own Preface and his inscription to Lord John Russell restored, and eight of the sixteen plates H. K. "Phiz" Browne drew for that edition, recovered from an 1859 printing.

THE GIFT EDITION —

an editor's introduction written for the season, honest about it: Dickens did not write this novel as a Christmas book, but its themes are the season's own — burial and resurrection, light against the dark, a final act of sacrifice. A presentation page opens the book for the giver's inscription, and a Twelve Nights reading plan carries the story in twelve sittings from 14 December to Christmas Day.

THE COMPANION —

an introduction, a Who's Who of both cities, four French Revolution explainers, a short life of Dickens, a note on the text and the period, a four-meeting reading schedule, and forty discussion questions spoiler-fenced by meeting.

The same edition is also available as a large-format 8¼ × 11 gift hardcover (Amazon KDP) — see the editor's Linktree shop.

The novel's text and Phiz's illustrations are public domain; all companion material © 2026 Horace Harriott Jr. An independent publication, not affiliated with or endorsed by any screen adaptation.