A landmark work whose setting is staged in the time of the French Revolution. It takes place in both London and Paris where two men are born that look similar and many roles start to be played out as the men are tried and tested throughout the book. Eventually in order to restore him to his family in London, the one man is freed by his Paris look-a-like so that the French imposter can stand trial and be executed by the revolting peasants for crimes the other man did not commit. Freedom comes at a price.