"A Tale of Two Cities" is a Dickens masterpiece set against the era of the bloody French Revolution. In fact, the original subtitle of the novel was: "A Story of the French Revolution."  In the novel, Paris and London, with their respective charms and chasms, form the backdrop against which both good and bad men attempt to keep their heads above water.  It was indeed the best of times and the worst of times--like all times have been, are, and always will be.  Dickens' "tale of two cities" turns out, in actuality, to be the tale of all cities.