"A Tale of Two Cities" is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1859. It is set in London and Paris during the late 18th century and explores themes of social injustice, resurrection, and sacrifice. Volume I introduces characters such as Dr. Alexandre Manette and his daughter Lucie, who are reunited after his unjust imprisonment. Charles Darnay, a young Frenchman with a hidden identity, arrives in London and falls in love with Lucie. The Defarge family, wine shopkeepers in Paris, is involved in revolutionary activities. Darnay is accused of being a spy and put on trial in England, revealing the consequences of his family's actions in France. Themes include social inequality, resurrection, and sacrifice, as characters undergo personal transformations and redemption. Volume I sets the stage for the novel's complex and intertwined stories, portraying the stark social inequalities of the time and hinting at the impending revolution in France.