A Far Better Thing
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 First edition cover | |
| Author | H. G. Parry |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genres | |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
Publication date | 17 June 2025 |
| Publication place | New Zealand |
| Media type | Trade paperback |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | 978-1-250-33418-3 |
A Far Better Thing is a 2025 historical fantasy novel by New Zealand author H. G. Parry. It was first published in June 2025 in the United States by Tor Books. The book is a retelling of Charles Dickens's 1859 historical novel A Tale of Two Cities with fairy changelings.[1][2]
Parry said in an interview that she read A Tale of Two Cities soon after her first visit to London and Paris in 2015. After pondering the similarities between Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay in Dickens's novel, she asked herself the question, "what if Carton and Darnay look identical because Darnay is Carton's changeling?"[1] For ten years, Parry developed A Far Better Thing around that question, beginning with a simple reworking of A Tale of Two Cities from Carton's perspective, then slowly introducing fairies and magic. She explained that her novel is a "shadow version" of Dickens's novel with "hidden spaces" in Paris and London – including a goblin market hidden behind a secret door, and a house stuck outside time.[1] Parry said, "My favourite magical worlds are always the ones lurking just out of reach, and places like London and Paris, intricate and sprawling and lived-in for centuries, always feel layered with them."[1]
Another retelling of A Tale of Two Cities from Carton's perspective is the 2000 novel, A Far Better Rest by Susanne Alleyn.[3] In her novel, Alleyn explains the resemblance between Carton and Darnay by making them, unbeknown to each other, first cousins.[4]
Plot summary
In A Far Better Thing, Sydney Carton is taken by fairies as a baby, leaving behind his double, a changeling named Charles Darnay. In the fairy realm Carton is given the name Memory, and remains there until the age of thirteen. At this stage of his development he is given the choice of turning into a fairy, which means giving up his humanity, or returning to the mortal world, but as a servant of the fairies. Carton elects to return to the human world where he becomes a lawyer, but still at the fairies' bidding. While assisting during the trial of a suspected French spy, Carton discovers that the accused is his changeling, Charles Darnay. Mortal servants are prohibited from meeting their changelings, but this encounter happens because of the interference of Shadow, a rogue fairy and Carton's master. Against the background of the French Revolution, Carton becomes embroiled in both human and fairy politics. He sees this as an opportunity to avenge Shadow for making his life a misery, and Darney for stealing his rightful place in society. Carton also sees this as an opportunity to break free of his fairy servitude.