Number one best A Tale of Two Cities audiobook

A Tale of Two Cities is an epic story about the French Revolution. Taking place in London and Paris, hence the name, the novel may be Charles Dickens’s magnum opus.

Though driven by political events, the story remains staunchly anti-political. Instead, Dickens focuses on themes of aristocratic tyranny and the excesses of the revolution. Sitting at the heart of the tale are the three main characters, Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay, and Lucie Manette.

It’s a great work of historical fiction that takes readers on a journey to the Bastille and the horrors of what happened in France during one of its most turbulent times. Furthermore, it explores the ramifications of the revolution in England.

You may have already read this great story. Now, you’re ready to re-read it with a twist. Instead of reading, you can listen to A Tale of Two Cities and hear those legendary opening lines read by a great narrator, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

In this article, we explore the best audiobook versions of this classic historical novel.

Which A Tale of Two Cities audiobooks are out there?

Would you like to hear about the reign of terror that led to the French Revolution? You may want to listen to the story as Madame Defarge knits while sitting beside the terrifying guillotine. With the help of these narrators, you can experience A Tale of Two Cities like never before.

Martin Jarvis version

The Martin Jarvis version of the story is among the most beloved. Jarvis is a British actor who has enjoyed a distinguished career, often serving as a leading man in British dramas.

In his narration of A Tale of Two Cities, Jarvis brings the dramatic flair that makes him so admired as an actor. His skills are such that Vanity Fair named him the “Olivier of audiobooks.”

If this is your first time listening to Dickens’s legendary tale, Martin Jarvis delivers the Victorian classic in a way few others can. He also narrates a version of Oliver Twist for those who want to dive deeper into Jarvis’s take on Dickens’s writing.

Richard Pasco version

Much like Martin Jarvis, Richard Pasco is a respected name in British acting. According to Wikipedia, he’s best known for his work on the stage and TV screen. Though he sadly passed away in 2014, Pasco managed to deliver an audio file of A Tale of Two Cities that stands tall next to the Martin Jarvis version.

Pasco’s version of this classic public domain tale breathes new life into characters like Dr. Manette and Miss Pross.

His audiobook is an unabridged version, meaning you don’t have to worry about it being broken down into installments. Instead, you can enjoy a great example of English literature without interruptions.

Simon Callow version

Another British actor, Simon Callow has received two BAFTA award nominations for his work. Furthermore, he’s a writer, which gives him some insight into the literary works he brings forth in his reading.

Callow’s version of the book is available as an Amazon Audible exclusive. As a Dickens biographer, Callow can come to grips with the great author’s stories in ways others can’t.

It should come as no surprise that he has also acted in many stage versions of Dickens’s novels, including Great Expectations, as well as a mini-TV series of David Copperfield.

LibriVox version

There are five versions of A Tale of Two Cities on the LibriVox service.

LibriVox is an audiobook app that allows American library cardholders to borrow literary classics. Its versions of this classic tale are segmented, meaning you can listen to them chapter by chapter.

Each has something different to offer. Consider adding all five versions to your wishlist so you can experiment to determine which is the best for you.

Simon Vance version

The difference between the Simon Vance version of this classic story and most others is that Vance is an audiobook narrator by trade. He’s won several awards for his work, meaning he knows exactly what makes an audiobook enticing to the audience.

His version of A Tale of Two Cities is on Audible. He has also narrated many other classics, including several works by Mark Twain and another great Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol.

Simon Prebble version

Simon Prebble’s reading of the story stands out because of the narrator’s excellent character work. He brings specific quirks to every character. Even characters with smaller roles in the story, such as Jerry Cruncher, Jarvis Lorry, and Alexandre Manette, come to life with Prebble’s narration.

AudioFile magazine says that Prebble’s genius lies in the scope of his imagination. If you want a version that feels like it transports you straight to Monsieur Defarge’s famous wine shop, Prebble does that thanks to his fantastic character work.

Get the A Tale of Two Cities audiobook from Speechify

If you’re searching for more audiobooks to go alongside your favorite version of A Tale of Two Cities, Speechify Audiobooks is the service for you.

Speechify has a massive and growing library of over 60,000 audiobooks. You don’t have to pay a monthly subscription fee. Plus, you can get your first audiobook for just $1. Best of all, once you’ve bought a Speechify audiobook, you own it for life.

If you’d like to learn more, check out Speechify Audiobooks today.

FAQ

What is the most listened-to audiobook?

It’s difficult to determine which is the most listened-to audiobook of all time because data isn’t available. However, we do know that Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist is currently the most listened-to book on the Libro.fm audiobook service.

What is the best audiobook of all time?

The answer to this question is open to interpretation, and there have been many discussions on podcasts about the best audiobook of all time. Many point to the Harry Potter series as narrated by Stephen Fry as the best.

What is the famous first line of A Tale of Two Cities?

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

What year was A Tale of Two Cities published?

A Tale of Two Cities was first published in 1859. It is now part of the public domain, meaning there are many versions of the book for you to explore.