INTRODUCTION WHEN Dickens, in the winter of 1859, essayed the little task of making a picturesque story, he requested Carlyle to lend him same books which the Sage of CheIsea had used in the production of his Fench, revolution. Carlyle, making more noise in his silence-room than the rest of the world put together, replied with grim humour by despatching to Gads Hill two cartloads of authorities. These supplied the novelist with sufficient facts and local colour to enable him to write A tale of Two Cities. Since the time of these famous Victorians the literature of the greatest event in history after the ilformation has been increased by a multitude of volumes. There is now a monthly magazine devoted to the education of the many phases of the epoch. The memoirs of those who played a part, however insignificant, in the maze of happenings which led to the breaking-up of the ancient regime are gradually being given to an interested public, and the French magazines frequently publish...