Is this novel more authoritative than "cold, hard facts?"

I wouldn't choose either of these to describe "A Tale of Two Cities." Dickens is not presenting himself as an authority on the novel's subject matter, nor is he presenting "cold, hard facts." This novel is an extraordinary piece of historical fiction..... it's Dickens at his best, but it's not a history book. Thus, if I have to choose one or the other, I'd have to choose authoritative based upon Dickens' innate ability to expose social conditions and their ultimate ramifications.