It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . . it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair . . . in short, the period was so far like the present period . . . .
Source: Opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities, 1859.
-- Charles Dickens, (Feb 7 1812-1870), English novelist, dramatist; He was one of most prolific and popular English novelists, e.g., A Christmas Carol, 1843 & Tale of Two Cities, 1859.