The title of the book - "Tale of two cities" itself quite reveals the tone that the story is set in. The word "tale" means a story or an event that has taken place. Thus, the author tries to convey to the readers from the very title of this book that the book is based upon some event, which has served as a link for the two cities (which are Paris and London). This shows that it is a historical based novel.

From the first chapter of this book - "The Period" the author shows the conditions that are prevailing in the cities. The author speaks about a person who was so ruthlessly punished and burnt alive just because he "had not kneeled to a dirty procession of monks" and so from here the reader are able to view that atmosphere to oppression and sufferings that is existing...