Lucie Manette is a character in

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' 1859

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

''.

Overview

Lucie is the daughter of Dr.

Alexandre Manette Doctor Alexandre Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. He is Lucie's father, a brilliant physician, and spent eighteen years "in secret" as a prisoner in the Bastille prior to the French Revolution. He is ...

. She is wise beyond her years, unfailingly kind, and loving. Her love and protection of her father is what attracts

Charles Darnay Charles Darnay, Charles D'Aulnais or Charles St. Evrémonde is a fictional character in the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. Overview Darnay is a wealthy gentleman who spends time in both France and England during the time o ...

to her. She meets Darnay, the young Frenchman, on the voyage home with her father. When Darnay is arrested as a spy due to evidence planted on him by

John Barsad John Barsad is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel, ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Barsad is a turncoat, English con-man, and spy, and partner of Roger Cly. In the pay of the Marquis St. Evremonde, he initially frames the Marquis' nep ...

on the orders of his uncle, the Marquis St. Evremonde, Lucie and her father attend Darnay’s trial out of concern. It is there that she meets

Sydney Carton Sydney Carton is a central character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. He is a shrewd young Englishman educated at Shrewsbury School, and sometime junior to his fellow barrister Stryver. Carton is portrayed as a brilliant ...

, the drunken lawyer who falls in love with her. She reaches out to Carton out of concern for his well being, but is being actively courted by Darnay and accepts the latter's proposal. When Darnay and Lucie’s daughter is about six years old, Darnay returns to France. Lucie, Dr. Manette, their daughter, Little Lucie, and Miss Pross go after him after receiving notice of his imprisonment in La Force. Lucie relies on her father to rescue Darnay, which he does, but then Darnay is again accused. During his imprisonment, Lucie remains loyal and faithful to Darnay. Lucie and her daughter successfully escape from the clutches of

Madame Defarge Madame Thérèse Defarge is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. She is a ringleader of the tricoteuses, a tireless worker for the French Revolution, memorably knitting besid ...

and reunite with Darnay safely, due to Carton's sacrifice in place of Darnay's.

Portrayals

Cinematic and theatrical portrayals

On film and television, Lucie has been portrayed by: *

Elizabeth Allan Elizabeth Allan (9 April 1910 – 27 July 1990) was an English stage and film actress who worked in both Britain and Hollywood, where she appeared in 50 films. Life and career Allan was born in Skegness, Lincolnshire in 1910 and educated in ...

(film, 1935) *

Wendy Hutchinson Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

(TV, 1957) *

Dorothy Tutin Dame Dorothy Tutin, (8 April 19306 August 2001) was an English actress of stage, film and television. For her work in the theatre, she won two Olivier Awards and two ''Evening Standard'' Awards for Best Actress. She was made a CBE in 1967 and ...

(film, 1958) *

Kika Markham Erika S.L. "Kika" Markham (born 1940)''birth registered 4th quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) 1940'' is an English actress. Early life Markham is a daughter of actor David Markham and writer Olive Dehn (1914–2007). She has three sisters: Petra, Sonia a ...

(TV, 1965) *

Sally Osborne Sally Osborne (born 19 September 1952) is a British film and television actress. She has appeared in a number of television series including ''The Cedar Tree'', ''Cribb'', ''King's Royal'', ''The Duchess of Duke Street'', ''A Tale of Two Cities'' ...

(TV, 1980) *

Alice Krige Alice Maud Krige (; born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress and producer. Her first feature film role was in ''Chariots of Fire'' (1981) as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon. She played the dual role of Eva Galli/Alma Mobley i ...

(TV, 1980) *

Serena Gordon Serena Mary Strathearn Gordon (born 3 September 1963) is an English actress. Her roles include Amanda Prosser in police drama ''The Bill'' and MI6 evaluator Caroline in 1995 James Bond film ''GoldenEye''. Life and career Born in London, she i ...

(TV, 1989) *

Brandi Burkhardt Brandi Lynn Burkhardt (born June 25, 1979) is an American television and film actress, and former Miss New York. She grew up in Pasadena, Maryland and lives in Los Angeles. Biography Education She attended New York University Tisch School of ...

( Broadway musical adaptation, 2008)

Radio portrayals

On radio, Lucie has been portrayed by: *

Charlotte Attenborough Charlotte Isabel Attenborough (born 29 June 1959) is a British stage, film and television actress known for her appearances in ''Jane Eyre'' (1996) and ''Jeeves and Wooster'' (1991, 93). She is the daughter of Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim. ...

(

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

, 1989) *

Lydia Wilson Lydia Wilson (born 30 November 1984) is an English-American actress. Since graduating in 2009 from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she has performed in numerous television and theatre productions including the Olivier Award winning ''Blasted'' ...

(

, 2011)

References

External links

Character Profile of Lucie Manette
A Tale of Two Cities characters Female characters in film Female characters in literature Female characters in television Fictional French people in literature Literary characters introduced in 1859 Orphan characters in literature {{Novel-char-stub