A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The novel itself is one of the most enduring works in the English literary canon — Dickens at the height of his power, writing about sacrifice, justice, and duality against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Budget Classics adds nothing beyond affordable access, with no scholarly notes or introduction, but if the goal is simply getting this masterpiece into a reader's hands at a low price point, that's a legitimate service. The revolutionary violence (guillotine scenes, mob violence) is worth a heads-up for parents of younger teens.