Master Love

As I mentioned previously I recently read The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  He is a famous author for a reason. It was a masterpiece or interwoven characters, plots and details. As I read I kept wondering why certain chapters were in there, but then in the climax they all came together in an amazingly satisfying and intelligible way. I was very impressed.
Granted I can understand why some people wouldn't like it. It is very detailed, some characters are never even named but just referred to as "the mender of roads" or "the tall man." Which gets rather confusing. Also, it's not written like most books are today, where the whole novel is driven by a flowing plot surrounding a main character.  I still couldn't tell you who the main character is, Lucie perhaps?
But, back to why I like it (which will include spoilers). Sydney Carton was a fascinating character. I never loved him, but I pitied him, and respected him, and loved his sacrifice for Lucie. I pitied him, for the way he doubts himself. Near the beginning of the book he recognizes what he could have been when he sees Darnay, but then he just cries into his pillow. How often have I felt that I can not do better then I am. And I respect him and love his sacrifice -- the very giving of his life -- for a man, who is the husband of the woman he loves. His love is perhaps one of the profoundest, purest forms of love from any book I've read. For the most part he is not jealous, he is inspired to be better and do better, he is steadfast, and he respects both Lucie, and the one's she loves.
I also recently read a book by one of Dicken's contemporaries, Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. She died before she finished it just so everyone knows. I didn't know that and then end was very sudden! But I bring it up as a foil against Carton's love. This is a love story but none of the characters love is as deep, long lasting, and requiring the sacrifice that is shown in Dicken's book. But I guess we can say that for them it is young love, untried. I still felt it was lacking. Everything can't be compared to a master.