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Two on a Tower [with Biographical Introduction]
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), dreamed since his childhood of becoming a poet. Then he produced several popular works that cemented his reputation as a great novelist of the Victorian period, and earned him the admiration of later writers like D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. Hardy's stories are noted for their nuances of Romantic and Enlightenment thinking, particularly elements of the supernatural. In "Two on a Tower", a love story set against the background of the stellar universe, Hardy defied social norms of the day and shocked his readers. In what is today seen as the author's most important portrayal of love across physical and societal divides, the novel tells the story of Lady Constantine, a married, older, aristocratic, religious woman who falls in love with Swithin St. Cleeve, a young astronomer, single, lower class, and agnostic. Hardy's fascination with science and astronomy is clear in this romantic and whimsical novel.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1882
171 people are currently reading
4962 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Hardy
2,782 books6,648 followersThomas Hardy, OM, was an English author of the naturalist movement, although in several poems he displays elements of the previous romantic and enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural. He regarded himself primarily as a poet and composed novels mainly for financial gain.
The bulk of his work, set mainly in the semi-fictional land of Wessex, delineates characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. Hardy's poetry, first published in his 50s, has come to be as well regarded as his novels, especially after The Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
The term cliffhanger is considered to have originated with Thomas Hardy's serial novel A Pair of Blue Eyes in 1873. In the novel, Hardy chose to leave one of his protagonists, Knight, literally hanging off a cliff staring into the stony eyes of a trilobite embedded in the rock that has been dead for millions of years. This became the archetypal — and literal — cliff-hanger of Victorian prose.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
The bulk of his work, set mainly in the semi-fictional land of Wessex, delineates characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. Hardy's poetry, first published in his 50s, has come to be as well regarded as his novels, especially after The Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
The term cliffhanger is considered to have originated with Thomas Hardy's serial novel A Pair of Blue Eyes in 1873. In the novel, Hardy chose to leave one of his protagonists, Knight, literally hanging off a cliff staring into the stony eyes of a trilobite embedded in the rock that has been dead for millions of years. This became the archetypal — and literal — cliff-hanger of Victorian prose.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
January 1, 2018
I haven’t read a Thomas Hardy novel since I was nineteen. I have good memories of The Return of the Native, Jude the Obscure and especially Tess. This one has sat unread since those distant halcyon days.
I suspect this novel might highlight the problems of applying all mental energy to the construction of plot and leaving the characters as a secondary consideration – a cheap trick which characterizes lots of modern commercial fiction. Everyone in this novel is shackled to the dogmatic plot. The only thing of any interest for me in this novel was how the plot would pan out. The writing itself was often like wastelands of brambles I had to wade through. Especially annoying was the Old Father Time vibe of the narrative voice with its endless classical allusions and quotations of famous poets. The characters were wooden, the dialogue was wooden. Every time the hero waxed lyrical about his passion for astronomy I felt I was reading stuff Hardy had copied out of an astronomy handbook for beginners. Every decision his two lovers made struck me as little short of preposterous, as if the plot and not inner compulsion was coercing them.
The suspicion arises that Hardy is a one trick pony. Once again he’s giving the lie to the romantic imagination and once again he’s taking up the cause of the woman. But he did this so much better in Tess.
I suspect this novel might highlight the problems of applying all mental energy to the construction of plot and leaving the characters as a secondary consideration – a cheap trick which characterizes lots of modern commercial fiction. Everyone in this novel is shackled to the dogmatic plot. The only thing of any interest for me in this novel was how the plot would pan out. The writing itself was often like wastelands of brambles I had to wade through. Especially annoying was the Old Father Time vibe of the narrative voice with its endless classical allusions and quotations of famous poets. The characters were wooden, the dialogue was wooden. Every time the hero waxed lyrical about his passion for astronomy I felt I was reading stuff Hardy had copied out of an astronomy handbook for beginners. Every decision his two lovers made struck me as little short of preposterous, as if the plot and not inner compulsion was coercing them.
The suspicion arises that Hardy is a one trick pony. Once again he’s giving the lie to the romantic imagination and once again he’s taking up the cause of the woman. But he did this so much better in Tess.
July 16, 2024
Well, I am sad to say, but I am slowly winding up my summer of reading the literary works of George Eliot and Thomas Hardy. I recently finished Thomas Hardy's Two on a Tower, one of his more obscure novels. Two on a Tower was first serialized in the Atlantic Monthly and then published in book-form in 1882, and was categorized by Hardy as a novel of "Romance and Fantasies." I had the devil of a time finding a copy of this novel, and short of ordering a brand-new copy from an on-line source, I continued to diligently search the shelves of every used bookstore I encountered. On a recent business trip to Arizona, I finally found a nearly new copy for six dollars!
In my opinion, Hardy has crafted an incredibly fascinating plot for the novel, and at times it reminded me of the plotting of Wilkie Collins. Also, the novel pivots almost entirely around just two characters, versus the more normal Hardyan plot with a larger number of country rustics intermingled with the protagonists. In Two on a Tower, much of the plot is solely focused on young Swithin St. Cleeve and the older Lady Constantine. St. Cleeve is a twenty-year old consumed with becoming a famous professional astronomer, who has been surreptitiously using an old tower on a hill in an isolated portion of Lady Constantine's absent husband's estate. Lady Viviette Constantine is a beautiful dark-haired woman, nearly ten years older than Swithin, who has been left alone for several years by her husband who is off adventuring on safari in Africa.
Over time the two meet and young St. Cleeve introduces Lady Constantine to the majesty and awe of the night sky above the rural Wessex countryside. Hardy's portrayal of the stars and planets, through Swithin's descriptions and patient tutelage of Lady Constantine as they huddle on top of the tower with his telescope, is one of the truly unique and particularly beautiful elements of this novel. It really illustrates Hardy's fascination and reverence for the natural world around him. Hardy obviously spent a lot of time researching the astronomical portions of his plot, as these sections are extremely well written and factually correct; both the descriptions of the night sky, and techniques that they use to view it, as well as the equipment Swithin constructs in the tower observatory. Fundamentally then, it seems to me, the novel is a story of the relationship of the human species with the universe in which we reside, and a relationship at its most elemental level--the Love between two humans.
Ah, but it is a plot written by Hardy; therefore this growing love between Swithin and Lady Constantine must of necessity become complicated, doesn't it? Well, yes it does, and here's where the similarities to Collins crop up. There are mysterious reports concerning Lady Constantine's missing husband; Lady Constantine's scheming older brother, Louis, shows up; and the pompous Bishop of Melchester, Lord Helmsdale, begins meddling in everyone's affairs. Oh, it gets good now, real good! I couldn't put it down at all from about the novel's mid-point on. I also found myself becoming quite attached to the characters, what few there are; and because there aren't that many, Hardy does a superb job of fleshing them out and bringing them to life on the page.
I want to share just a bit of Hardy's beautiful prose from the novel with you. This is from a scene, late at night at the height of a violent windstorm that catches Lady Constantine and Swithin atop the old tower attempting to perform some astronomical observations
Post Script--I actually found two copies of the novel, and presented one to my elderly father. He has been a quite serious amateur astronomer most of his life. He began reading it the day I gave it to him. I can't wait to hear his reaction when he's finished.
In my opinion, Hardy has crafted an incredibly fascinating plot for the novel, and at times it reminded me of the plotting of Wilkie Collins. Also, the novel pivots almost entirely around just two characters, versus the more normal Hardyan plot with a larger number of country rustics intermingled with the protagonists. In Two on a Tower, much of the plot is solely focused on young Swithin St. Cleeve and the older Lady Constantine. St. Cleeve is a twenty-year old consumed with becoming a famous professional astronomer, who has been surreptitiously using an old tower on a hill in an isolated portion of Lady Constantine's absent husband's estate. Lady Viviette Constantine is a beautiful dark-haired woman, nearly ten years older than Swithin, who has been left alone for several years by her husband who is off adventuring on safari in Africa.
Over time the two meet and young St. Cleeve introduces Lady Constantine to the majesty and awe of the night sky above the rural Wessex countryside. Hardy's portrayal of the stars and planets, through Swithin's descriptions and patient tutelage of Lady Constantine as they huddle on top of the tower with his telescope, is one of the truly unique and particularly beautiful elements of this novel. It really illustrates Hardy's fascination and reverence for the natural world around him. Hardy obviously spent a lot of time researching the astronomical portions of his plot, as these sections are extremely well written and factually correct; both the descriptions of the night sky, and techniques that they use to view it, as well as the equipment Swithin constructs in the tower observatory. Fundamentally then, it seems to me, the novel is a story of the relationship of the human species with the universe in which we reside, and a relationship at its most elemental level--the Love between two humans.
Ah, but it is a plot written by Hardy; therefore this growing love between Swithin and Lady Constantine must of necessity become complicated, doesn't it? Well, yes it does, and here's where the similarities to Collins crop up. There are mysterious reports concerning Lady Constantine's missing husband; Lady Constantine's scheming older brother, Louis, shows up; and the pompous Bishop of Melchester, Lord Helmsdale, begins meddling in everyone's affairs. Oh, it gets good now, real good! I couldn't put it down at all from about the novel's mid-point on. I also found myself becoming quite attached to the characters, what few there are; and because there aren't that many, Hardy does a superb job of fleshing them out and bringing them to life on the page.
I want to share just a bit of Hardy's beautiful prose from the novel with you. This is from a scene, late at night at the height of a violent windstorm that catches Lady Constantine and Swithin atop the old tower attempting to perform some astronomical observations
"Under any other circumstances Lady Constantine might have felt a nameless fear in thus sitting aloft on a lonely column, with a forest groaning under her feet, and paleolithic dead men feeding its roots; but the passionate decision stirred her pulses to an intensity beside which the ordinary tremors of feminine existence asserted themselves in vain. The apocalyptic effect of the scene surrounding her was, indeed, not inharmonious, and afforded an appropriate background to her intentions.Wow! Was that not just awesome? In just a few sentences, Hardy has managed to establish a connection between the raw power of Nature, the hundreds of generations of humans that have occupied this ancient landscape, and the genuine and palpable love that these two beings on the tower share for one another. Great stuff, and vintage Thomas Hardy! Find yourself a copy of this wonderful novel, and put it on your shelf and wait for a rainy day with no interruptions. You'll soon find yourself completely swept away and engrossed in the lives of Swithin St. Cleeve and his love, the beautiful Lady Constantine. This was a terrific novel, and I would give it 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.
After what seemed to her an interminable space of time, quick steps in the staircase became audible above the roar of the firs, and in a few instants St. Cleeve again stood by her."
Post Script--I actually found two copies of the novel, and presented one to my elderly father. He has been a quite serious amateur astronomer most of his life. He began reading it the day I gave it to him. I can't wait to hear his reaction when he's finished.
December 1, 2022
Thomas Hardy este unul dintre cei mai mari romancieri englezi cu multe opere celebre precum "The Mayor of Casterbridge", "Tess of the d'Urbervilles", "Life's little ironies", "A pair of blue eyes" sau "The Well-Beloved". El a pornit in viata ca arhitect studiind arhitectura gotica si fiind premiat pentru aceasta activitate. Pasiunea lui pentru stiinta se va reflecta si in prezentul roman "Two on a Tower".
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, o avem in prim plan pe Lady Constantine, o tanara domnita care plimbandu-se cu trasura devine intrigata de singuraticul turn care se afla pe domeniul sotului ei.
Ea decide sa exploreze turnul fiind fascinata de aerul de solitudine si mister pe care acesta le emana si asa il descopera acolo pe tanarul Swithin St. Cleeven ce doreste sa devina astronom. Acesta o invita sa se uite prin telescop si sa descopere frumusetea cerului instelat.
Lady Constantine este mai mare ca tanarul, este casatorita si sotul ei a parasit-o ducandu-se sa vaneze lei in Africa. Ea se indragosteste de viitorul astronom, lucru firesc pentru ca cine nu s-ar indragosti de un barbat care iti dezvaluie misterele stelelor? Insa, oare tanarul va putea sa-si coboare privirea de la astrii si spre frumoasa pamanteana?
Dupa moartea sotului sau Lady Constantine si Swithin se casatoresc in taina insa iubirea si legatura lor vor fi aspru incercate de multiplele obstacole care li se vor ivi in cale. O multime de ghinioane, tragedii, neintelegeri, secrete, gelozii si oameni care incearca sa-i desparta vor eroda aceasta relatie. Din pacate mi s-a parut ca toate aceste lucruri sunt mult prea mult si romanul, desi castiga dramatism si profunzime, pierde totusi din credibilitate. Consider ca happy end-ul ar fi fost o binemeritata recompensa atat pentru cei doi iubiti care lupta aprig pentru fericirea lor cat si pentru cititor.
Pe tot parcursul romanului avem inserate citate si referiri la opere celebre ale lui Shakespeare cum ar fi: "Hamlet", "Negutatorul din Venetia" sau "Macbeth".
Am retinut si o frumoasa declaratie de dragoste care suna cam asa: "De acum inainte ochii dumneavoastra vor fi stelele mele."
In incheiere va recomand romanul pentru povestea de dragoste duioasa dintre cei doi, atat pentru minunatele imagini ale naturii si descrierile Wessex-ului care sunt specialitatea lui Hardy, cat si pentru stilul frumos al acestuia. Atasez si doua citate care sa exprime aceste aspecte:
"... la vremea cand lumea vegetala arata ca un valmasag de schelete printre coastele carora se strecoara raze jucause de soare."
"Ce femeie are dreptul, pentru a-si salva onoarea, sa nimiceasca o fiinta ce a incoltit in ea..."
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, o avem in prim plan pe Lady Constantine, o tanara domnita care plimbandu-se cu trasura devine intrigata de singuraticul turn care se afla pe domeniul sotului ei.
Ea decide sa exploreze turnul fiind fascinata de aerul de solitudine si mister pe care acesta le emana si asa il descopera acolo pe tanarul Swithin St. Cleeven ce doreste sa devina astronom. Acesta o invita sa se uite prin telescop si sa descopere frumusetea cerului instelat.
Lady Constantine este mai mare ca tanarul, este casatorita si sotul ei a parasit-o ducandu-se sa vaneze lei in Africa. Ea se indragosteste de viitorul astronom, lucru firesc pentru ca cine nu s-ar indragosti de un barbat care iti dezvaluie misterele stelelor? Insa, oare tanarul va putea sa-si coboare privirea de la astrii si spre frumoasa pamanteana?
Dupa moartea sotului sau Lady Constantine si Swithin se casatoresc in taina insa iubirea si legatura lor vor fi aspru incercate de multiplele obstacole care li se vor ivi in cale. O multime de ghinioane, tragedii, neintelegeri, secrete, gelozii si oameni care incearca sa-i desparta vor eroda aceasta relatie. Din pacate mi s-a parut ca toate aceste lucruri sunt mult prea mult si romanul, desi castiga dramatism si profunzime, pierde totusi din credibilitate. Consider ca happy end-ul ar fi fost o binemeritata recompensa atat pentru cei doi iubiti care lupta aprig pentru fericirea lor cat si pentru cititor.
Pe tot parcursul romanului avem inserate citate si referiri la opere celebre ale lui Shakespeare cum ar fi: "Hamlet", "Negutatorul din Venetia" sau "Macbeth".
Am retinut si o frumoasa declaratie de dragoste care suna cam asa: "De acum inainte ochii dumneavoastra vor fi stelele mele."
In incheiere va recomand romanul pentru povestea de dragoste duioasa dintre cei doi, atat pentru minunatele imagini ale naturii si descrierile Wessex-ului care sunt specialitatea lui Hardy, cat si pentru stilul frumos al acestuia. Atasez si doua citate care sa exprime aceste aspecte:
"... la vremea cand lumea vegetala arata ca un valmasag de schelete printre coastele carora se strecoara raze jucause de soare."
"Ce femeie are dreptul, pentru a-si salva onoarea, sa nimiceasca o fiinta ce a incoltit in ea..."
February 26, 2018
Any TH novel subtitled “a romance” will, inevitably, end in tears, in copious buckets of tears cried for years and years, the buckets turning into wells, and the wells turning into lagoons. This nonromcom concerns Viviette Constantine, a monied woman who takes a liking to Swithin St Cleeve, an unmonied self-trained astronomer, who occupies a tower on Viviette’s inherited land to conduct his stargazing scholarship activities. Over the course of the novel, various pandemoniums, convenient and inconvenient deaths, ultimatums and Catch-22s, are thrust between the two lovers, forcing several wedges between their lunar ardour, until the tears commence, and the buckets and are located to prevent the Wessex area drowning in heartbreaking Victorian woe, where the Church is Always to Blame. (And it is).
July 7, 2022
I love Hardy but this book is simply dreadful.
In some ways it's comforting to see that one of the best writers in the English language was capable of producing something so bad.
I would say this isn't even really for completists, though there is some interest in seeing how elements of other books are also present here. I remember my notes for Tess of the d'Urbervilles saying there was once a subplot in which Tess thinks she gets married, but it's not legitimate. Hardy ditched that nonsense in the published version, and rightly so, but the silly plotline lurks on in this novel.
The afterward to my copy makes a case that this wasn't just Hardy slacking; that the book is an example of not-completely-successful experimentation. There might be something in that. The experiment seems to be: Can you write a romance about lovers and stars, in which human problems are dwarfed by the sheer scale of the heavens? The answer is no. Or rather, you can, but dwarfing your human problems makes them seem, well, trivial.
More points taken off for having to read again and again about how "old" the heroine is (she is twenty-eight) and how close to being "past it." And for some really tangled writing... these pompous tortured phrases hardly seem to come from the same pen as Tess (but I do remember seeing shades of that Hardy in The Return of the Native).
This novel also features the most ridiculous final paragraph I've read this year, last year, possibly any year.
In some ways it's comforting to see that one of the best writers in the English language was capable of producing something so bad.
I would say this isn't even really for completists, though there is some interest in seeing how elements of other books are also present here. I remember my notes for Tess of the d'Urbervilles saying there was once a subplot in which Tess thinks she gets married, but it's not legitimate. Hardy ditched that nonsense in the published version, and rightly so, but the silly plotline lurks on in this novel.
The afterward to my copy makes a case that this wasn't just Hardy slacking; that the book is an example of not-completely-successful experimentation. There might be something in that. The experiment seems to be: Can you write a romance about lovers and stars, in which human problems are dwarfed by the sheer scale of the heavens? The answer is no. Or rather, you can, but dwarfing your human problems makes them seem, well, trivial.
More points taken off for having to read again and again about how "old" the heroine is (she is twenty-eight) and how close to being "past it." And for some really tangled writing... these pompous tortured phrases hardly seem to come from the same pen as Tess (but I do remember seeing shades of that Hardy in The Return of the Native).
This novel also features the most ridiculous final paragraph I've read this year, last year, possibly any year.
May 20, 2016
I did enjoy this, but it's not my favourite Hardy. It has some really interesting themes and quite an interesting central relationship, but I don't think the characters were as developed and the ending was quite odd. Hardy's writing is beautiful as always though.
October 12, 2017
My favourite Hardy's novel, hands down.
It wasn't as good as Tess of the d'Urbervilles nor Far From the Madding Crowd but this one talked to my soul and I will never ever forget it.
It wasn't as good as Tess of the d'Urbervilles nor Far From the Madding Crowd but this one talked to my soul and I will never ever forget it.
September 10, 2016
Thomas Hardy said that he wrote this novel “to set the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe…” To begin the tale, a woman decides to investigate a tower and meets a young astronomer there who introduces her to the wonders of the night sky. As such, the novel is fiction about science rather than science fiction. Hardy uses the book as a social commentary on the Victorian rules of society and religion of the time. He sets our two star-gazers off on an seemingly impossible starry-eyed path where they’re met with obstacles to their relationship at every turn.
As a woman of means, Viviette helps Swithin (the astronomer) to acquire better instruments for his astronomical observations. Part of the reason behind this investment is to endear herself more to him. Disappointingly, Swithin tells Viviette that “[a] beloved science is enough wife for me,—combined, perhaps, with a little warm friendship with one of kindred pursuits.” Of course, a statement like that is an open invitation or perhaps an open challenge for Viviette to perhaps make herself more than just a warm friend. She says, “I feel that I have been so foolish as to put in your hands an instrument to effect my own annihilation.”
Hardy allows his characters to slowly get to know each other before they fall in love. I love the conversations that the “two on the tower” have as Swithin is introducing Viviette to astronomy. Here’s a sampling:
Viviette: ”But I wish to be enlightened.”
Swithin: ”Let me caution you against it.”
Viviette: ”Is enlightenment on the subject, then, so terrible?”
Swithin: ”Yes, indeed.”
“She laughingly declared that nothing could have so piqued her curiosity as his statement…” After all, there’s nothing more appealing than a warning against enlightenment. Swithin goes on to challenge Viviette’s faith by saying that “[w]hatever the stars were made for, they were not made to please our eyes. It is just the same in everything; nothing is made for man.”
While Swithin challenges Viviette’s faith as well as her ideas of right and wrong, she finds that she still worries about what others think of her and feels the need to act secretly. This is true even though she has no real friends or acquaintances within the village. Still, what would the neighbors think if she had a romantic interest so soon after hearing of her husband’s death abroad? What would they think if they knew she was in love with a man a decade younger than her (he’s in his early 20s and she’s in her early 30s)? What would they think if they knew she was in love with someone beneath her social level? The characters go to ridiculously great lengths to hide their meetings and feelings for each other, even at times when nobody is watching. Just when everything looks as if everything’s going to work out, another obstacle appears in the path. But all these problems could have been solved so easily if Viviette would just have acquiesced to allow their relationship to be known publicly from the beginning.
I have to admit that I vacillate between thinking that they should have just allowed their love to be public from the beginning and agreeing with this statement: “Like a certain philosopher I would, upon my soul, have all young men from eighteen to twenty-five kept under barrels; seeing how often, in the lack of some such sequestering process, the woman sits down before each as his destiny, and too frequently enervates his purpose, till he abandons the most promising course ever conceived!” I’ve seen so many marriages begun before age 25 fail that I long ago adopted this philosophy of keeping men under barrels until they’re 25. Well, maybe they shouldn’t be kept under barrels, but I think couples should ideally wait until both are at least 25 before committing to marriage. There has been research in the past few years to suggest that the brain often doesn’t fully develop until age 25 or even the early 30s. I especially noticed a marked change in my male friends’ maturity level after age 25. And when I was in my late 20s trying to date guys in their early 20s, there was definitely a divide. I felt as if they were just discovering themselves, discovering the world, and working out their own philosophies while I was already past that. I felt almost as if I’d be a hindrance to their enthusiastic new self-discoveries. After all, I’d already been there and done that. And I did feel a little sheepish about dating a 19-year-old when I was 27 whereas I’d not have felt the same strangeness about dating a 25-year-old at age 33. Time can make a big difference where age gaps are concerned.
Age aside, I wonder how many Victorian women read this book and then afterwards went out to try to find themselves a young astronomer (or other scientist) to enlighten them. Through this novel, Hardy makes astronomers seem extraordinarily sexy in their singular and focused scientific endeavors: “Within his temples dwelt thoughts, not of woman’s looks, but of stellar aspects and the configuration of constellations. Thus, to his physical attractiveness was added the attractiveness of mental inaccessibility.” And this is the crowning line to make all the Victorian literary fan girls truly swoon: “There was a certain scientific practicability even in his love-making, and it here came out excellently.” There probably weren’t enough scientists to go around after the Victorian fan girls read that line.
This was a great read on my journey through Hardy’s works. Those who enjoy a nice scientific romance railing against Victorian ideas would definitely enjoy it. And those young astronomers wishing to make themselves appear irresistible to the objects of their affection should request the objects of their affection read this book. Just a word of caution: don’t sneak a peek at the last page unless you want the entire story ruined for you.
As a woman of means, Viviette helps Swithin (the astronomer) to acquire better instruments for his astronomical observations. Part of the reason behind this investment is to endear herself more to him. Disappointingly, Swithin tells Viviette that “[a] beloved science is enough wife for me,—combined, perhaps, with a little warm friendship with one of kindred pursuits.” Of course, a statement like that is an open invitation or perhaps an open challenge for Viviette to perhaps make herself more than just a warm friend. She says, “I feel that I have been so foolish as to put in your hands an instrument to effect my own annihilation.”
Hardy allows his characters to slowly get to know each other before they fall in love. I love the conversations that the “two on the tower” have as Swithin is introducing Viviette to astronomy. Here’s a sampling:
Viviette: ”But I wish to be enlightened.”
Swithin: ”Let me caution you against it.”
Viviette: ”Is enlightenment on the subject, then, so terrible?”
Swithin: ”Yes, indeed.”
“She laughingly declared that nothing could have so piqued her curiosity as his statement…” After all, there’s nothing more appealing than a warning against enlightenment. Swithin goes on to challenge Viviette’s faith by saying that “[w]hatever the stars were made for, they were not made to please our eyes. It is just the same in everything; nothing is made for man.”
While Swithin challenges Viviette’s faith as well as her ideas of right and wrong, she finds that she still worries about what others think of her and feels the need to act secretly. This is true even though she has no real friends or acquaintances within the village. Still, what would the neighbors think if she had a romantic interest so soon after hearing of her husband’s death abroad? What would they think if they knew she was in love with a man a decade younger than her (he’s in his early 20s and she’s in her early 30s)? What would they think if they knew she was in love with someone beneath her social level? The characters go to ridiculously great lengths to hide their meetings and feelings for each other, even at times when nobody is watching. Just when everything looks as if everything’s going to work out, another obstacle appears in the path. But all these problems could have been solved so easily if Viviette would just have acquiesced to allow their relationship to be known publicly from the beginning.
I have to admit that I vacillate between thinking that they should have just allowed their love to be public from the beginning and agreeing with this statement: “Like a certain philosopher I would, upon my soul, have all young men from eighteen to twenty-five kept under barrels; seeing how often, in the lack of some such sequestering process, the woman sits down before each as his destiny, and too frequently enervates his purpose, till he abandons the most promising course ever conceived!” I’ve seen so many marriages begun before age 25 fail that I long ago adopted this philosophy of keeping men under barrels until they’re 25. Well, maybe they shouldn’t be kept under barrels, but I think couples should ideally wait until both are at least 25 before committing to marriage. There has been research in the past few years to suggest that the brain often doesn’t fully develop until age 25 or even the early 30s. I especially noticed a marked change in my male friends’ maturity level after age 25. And when I was in my late 20s trying to date guys in their early 20s, there was definitely a divide. I felt as if they were just discovering themselves, discovering the world, and working out their own philosophies while I was already past that. I felt almost as if I’d be a hindrance to their enthusiastic new self-discoveries. After all, I’d already been there and done that. And I did feel a little sheepish about dating a 19-year-old when I was 27 whereas I’d not have felt the same strangeness about dating a 25-year-old at age 33. Time can make a big difference where age gaps are concerned.
Age aside, I wonder how many Victorian women read this book and then afterwards went out to try to find themselves a young astronomer (or other scientist) to enlighten them. Through this novel, Hardy makes astronomers seem extraordinarily sexy in their singular and focused scientific endeavors: “Within his temples dwelt thoughts, not of woman’s looks, but of stellar aspects and the configuration of constellations. Thus, to his physical attractiveness was added the attractiveness of mental inaccessibility.” And this is the crowning line to make all the Victorian literary fan girls truly swoon: “There was a certain scientific practicability even in his love-making, and it here came out excellently.” There probably weren’t enough scientists to go around after the Victorian fan girls read that line.
This was a great read on my journey through Hardy’s works. Those who enjoy a nice scientific romance railing against Victorian ideas would definitely enjoy it. And those young astronomers wishing to make themselves appear irresistible to the objects of their affection should request the objects of their affection read this book. Just a word of caution: don’t sneak a peek at the last page unless you want the entire story ruined for you.
May 13, 2019
Two on a Tower
A haunting juxtaposition
Of heavenly exposition,
Astronomical exhibition,
And tragical perdition,
Rather spoiled in this edition
(a Penguin Classics commission)
By the unfortunate addition
Of some academic’s submission
To classify every position
At the expense of recognition.
A haunting juxtaposition
Of heavenly exposition,
Astronomical exhibition,
And tragical perdition,
Rather spoiled in this edition
(a Penguin Classics commission)
By the unfortunate addition
Of some academic’s submission
To classify every position
At the expense of recognition.
July 3, 2023
O poveste de iubire presărată cu "micile ironii ale vieții " specifice lui Hardy. Când lucrurile par să meargă bine, mai intervine ceva: o scrisoare, un frate, o veste neașteptată, o încurcătură și astfel devorezi pagină după pagină în așteptarea unui happy end. Care vine sau nu.
Tema iubirii este explorata sub diverse aspecte: diferența de vârstă, îndrăgostirea, iubirea între pasiune și rațiune, nebunie și sacrificiu. O lectură incitantă per ansamblu.
Tema iubirii este explorata sub diverse aspecte: diferența de vârstă, îndrăgostirea, iubirea între pasiune și rațiune, nebunie și sacrificiu. O lectură incitantă per ansamblu.
August 4, 2019
Cada vez tengo más claro que Hardy es y será uno de mis autores imprescindibles. Vamos a ver, el hombre tendía al drama. Pero al drama a ratitos gore, ese que dices "venga ya, es que no les puede ir peor". Supongo que por eso me ha chocado tanto encontrarme una historia de apariencia dulce. Ajá, apariencia. Ojo a la que se puede liar cuando una mentira pequeñita empieza el conocido fenómeno "bola de nieve".
No voy a pecar de mentirosa, disfruté mucho más Jude el oscuro - de hecho, mucho me temo que esa va a ser mi obra favorita del autor - y flipé tanto con Tess la de los d'Urberville que Dos en una torre me ha parecido un cuento bonito, con sus dramas, sí; pero un cuento.
¿De qué va esto? Lady Constaninne está muerta de asco en la Casa Grande. Con su marido en África - por cierto, todo un cabrón, el señor - y sin nada a lo que dedicar sus horas más allá de formalismos sociales que ni le interesan ni teóricamente le convienen; nuestra protagonistas decide que quiere ir a echar un ojo a la colina en la que se yergue la torre que un chico del pueblo está usando como observatorio. Por supuesto, sólo es un encuentro fortuito entre señora y científico. Al principio.
No, no pienso soltar prenda. Una historia contada bajo la luz de las estrellas, con los dramas propios de dos personas de edades y ambiciones muy diferentes; la oscura ala de ese convencionalismo social teñido de religión; y un final que, palabrita, rompe el corazón. Es todo eso. ¿De verdad os lo vais a perder?
No voy a pecar de mentirosa, disfruté mucho más Jude el oscuro - de hecho, mucho me temo que esa va a ser mi obra favorita del autor - y flipé tanto con Tess la de los d'Urberville que Dos en una torre me ha parecido un cuento bonito, con sus dramas, sí; pero un cuento.
¿De qué va esto? Lady Constaninne está muerta de asco en la Casa Grande. Con su marido en África - por cierto, todo un cabrón, el señor - y sin nada a lo que dedicar sus horas más allá de formalismos sociales que ni le interesan ni teóricamente le convienen; nuestra protagonistas decide que quiere ir a echar un ojo a la colina en la que se yergue la torre que un chico del pueblo está usando como observatorio. Por supuesto, sólo es un encuentro fortuito entre señora y científico. Al principio.
No, no pienso soltar prenda. Una historia contada bajo la luz de las estrellas, con los dramas propios de dos personas de edades y ambiciones muy diferentes; la oscura ala de ese convencionalismo social teñido de religión; y un final que, palabrita, rompe el corazón. Es todo eso. ¿De verdad os lo vais a perder?
September 21, 2020
When you open my book there are what appears to be pencil sketches that if you touch them it would smear the art work.
When you read the book the first 70 pages or so are very slow and I liked the lesson at first. A glance into the life of Lady Constantine an upperclass social status and 8 years older and very lonely for companionship.
Swithin an astronomer and more in love with the findings than life itself. The Tower at first is his discoveries into the sky, it later becomes their own little world that happens to be on Lady C's land. Overtime her visits at the Tower are more for herself. She wants to be with him and accepts the teachings. The dream of fullfilling his ambitions puts him in his own mental world and she encourages him but also distances herself from his passion for his own good.
She is so in need of love and finds herself so fallen with him that she does not realize that in the end his love is faithfulness. Secrets abound between them, between her and Sir Blount. Legal documents interfere. More complications abound and what is going to happen next? The story is sad more than a happy romance and the ending is not what I had thought.
"There is a size at which dignity begins, further on there is a size at which grandeur begins; further on there is a size at which solemnity begins; further on, a size at which usefulness begins; further on, a size at which ghastliness begins."
Hardy seems to have written a novel where the mysteries of the heavens and solor system are the main characters. Hardy seemed to be finding his way with this one. Compared to my first read The Mayor of Casterbridge for a second read not my favorite of the two for sure.
When you read the book the first 70 pages or so are very slow and I liked the lesson at first. A glance into the life of Lady Constantine an upperclass social status and 8 years older and very lonely for companionship.
Swithin an astronomer and more in love with the findings than life itself. The Tower at first is his discoveries into the sky, it later becomes their own little world that happens to be on Lady C's land. Overtime her visits at the Tower are more for herself. She wants to be with him and accepts the teachings. The dream of fullfilling his ambitions puts him in his own mental world and she encourages him but also distances herself from his passion for his own good.
She is so in need of love and finds herself so fallen with him that she does not realize that in the end his love is faithfulness. Secrets abound between them, between her and Sir Blount. Legal documents interfere. More complications abound and what is going to happen next? The story is sad more than a happy romance and the ending is not what I had thought.
"There is a size at which dignity begins, further on there is a size at which grandeur begins; further on there is a size at which solemnity begins; further on, a size at which usefulness begins; further on, a size at which ghastliness begins."
Hardy seems to have written a novel where the mysteries of the heavens and solor system are the main characters. Hardy seemed to be finding his way with this one. Compared to my first read The Mayor of Casterbridge for a second read not my favorite of the two for sure.
June 16, 2015
(4.5 rounded up, because I just enjoyed it that much.) In Welland is situated a memorial tower in a prehistoric wilderness. The tower stands in between Welland House, where neglected wife Viviette Constantine lives, and Welland Bottom, the dwelling of young, orphaned aspiring astronomer Swithin St. Cleeve. When Lady Constantine offers the tower and other resources for Swithin's astrological observations, she finds herself drawn to him, despite her absent (and unkind) husband, and the difference between their ages. Soon reasons of Sir Constantine's continued absence surface, leaving his wife free from his grasp, and able to address her feelings for St. Cleeve, but he has reservations. Almost a decade the "Adonis-astronomer's" senior, she doesn't want to distract from his study of the skies or take advantage of his romantic inexperience. But soon he starts to recognize her attention and feels inclined to respond, but of course, it's just not that simple.
So I pretty much devoured this book. It's comparatively shorter than a lot of Thomas Hardy's other novels, but it's also quite compelling. It's not overly complicated and there aren't SO many characters, so it doesn't feel convoluted or unnecessarily complicated (as some of his books, though still excellent, tend to be). It was interesting to read a love story with such an emphases on the difference of class and age (almost ten years!!! It's kind of a scandal in context) between the two parties, as well as complications that arise from secrets and family interference. Thomas Hardy's storytelling and prose are pretty close to his best here, I really wondered what was going to happen (especially as I knew very little about the story beforehand), and the pages seemed to turn themselves. The two characters referred to in the title are sympathetic and well-developed (if a little altruistic), and I felt like I knew them and cared about them. Viviette is a strong and sympathetic heroine with real heart, and Swithin read like the changeable and impressionable but noble youth that he is. The titular tower was essentially a character in itself, and I was always interested what was going to happen when the scene took place there. Astronomy also largely played a role as a character and recurring theme throughout, which I understand was due to Hardy's interest in the subject at the time, as well as recent discoveries at the time of writing. There were elements familiar to Hardy's style, such as fate and missed letters and timing and consequences, as well as romance and its societal obstacles, and though it started to drag just a little bit toward the end, the grand finale was affecting and memorable. The last few pages were such a rollercoaster I just had no idea what was going on. I finished it last night and have been thinking about it all day today.
One thing that I really appreciate, though of course I have learned this for myself, is that the introduction contains a built-in spoiler warning, which is a good thing because that introduction is spoilerrific (now if only they had been as careful with what was written on the back...).
This book was fantastic! It's already made its way probably to my top five Thomas Hardy books. It kept a great pace, had strong and just enough characters, I had no idea if it was going to be happy or sad in the end, though with Hardy you can usually expect a little (or a lot) of both. I wanted to be a fly on the wall whenever Viviette and Swithin met on the tower.
So I pretty much devoured this book. It's comparatively shorter than a lot of Thomas Hardy's other novels, but it's also quite compelling. It's not overly complicated and there aren't SO many characters, so it doesn't feel convoluted or unnecessarily complicated (as some of his books, though still excellent, tend to be). It was interesting to read a love story with such an emphases on the difference of class and age (almost ten years!!! It's kind of a scandal in context) between the two parties, as well as complications that arise from secrets and family interference. Thomas Hardy's storytelling and prose are pretty close to his best here, I really wondered what was going to happen (especially as I knew very little about the story beforehand), and the pages seemed to turn themselves. The two characters referred to in the title are sympathetic and well-developed (if a little altruistic), and I felt like I knew them and cared about them. Viviette is a strong and sympathetic heroine with real heart, and Swithin read like the changeable and impressionable but noble youth that he is. The titular tower was essentially a character in itself, and I was always interested what was going to happen when the scene took place there. Astronomy also largely played a role as a character and recurring theme throughout, which I understand was due to Hardy's interest in the subject at the time, as well as recent discoveries at the time of writing. There were elements familiar to Hardy's style, such as fate and missed letters and timing and consequences, as well as romance and its societal obstacles, and though it started to drag just a little bit toward the end, the grand finale was affecting and memorable. The last few pages were such a rollercoaster I just had no idea what was going on. I finished it last night and have been thinking about it all day today.
One thing that I really appreciate, though of course I have learned this for myself, is that the introduction contains a built-in spoiler warning, which is a good thing because that introduction is spoilerrific (now if only they had been as careful with what was written on the back...).
This book was fantastic! It's already made its way probably to my top five Thomas Hardy books. It kept a great pace, had strong and just enough characters, I had no idea if it was going to be happy or sad in the end, though with Hardy you can usually expect a little (or a lot) of both. I wanted to be a fly on the wall whenever Viviette and Swithin met on the tower.
October 8, 2017
Come due moderni Vega e Altair, la tessitrice e il mandriano, Lady Constantine e il suo giovane protetto St. Cleeve, trovano la loro personale Via Lattea sulla vetta di una torre in disuso, punto d'incontro e di osservazione per due persone altrimenti inavvicinabili.
La torre del diciottesimo secolo situata nella contea del Wessex, di proprietà del marito di Lady Constantine, costruita forse sotto un accampamento romano o, secondo altri, sotto un antico campo nel quale i sassoni tenevano le loro assemble. Certo è che adesso, a distanza di anni, i resti di questi antenati fanno da concime alla fitta vegetazione che nasconde gran parte della torre adibita abusivamente dal giovane St. Cleeve ad osservatorio astronomico.
La storia della loro relazione illecita, che fece gridare allo scandalo dopo la prima pubblicazione del romanzo e costrinse l'autore ad una breve nota introduttiva atta a discolpare l'opera a distanza di tredici anni, nasce all'ombra di questa torre ambigua e misteriosa.
Un'unione osteggiata dal fato e dagli uomini, vuoi per la giovinezza del ragazzo, vuoi per la differanze di casta.
La vegetazione incolta sembra voler osteggiare fisicamente Viviette ad ogni sua visita notturna nella torre, stessa cosa fanno le tanto amate e temute stelle che distraggono l'astrologo dalla sua presenza fisica.
"C'è una misura a partire dalla quale si inizia a parlare di dignità; più avanti, c'è una misura dalla quale inizia la solennità; ancora oltre, si inizia a parlare di maestosità e più oltre ancora inizia lo spavento."
La relazione vera e propria ha inizio sotto i preggiori auspici e segna un brusco cambio di registro nella narrazione. Gli ambienti si incupiscono e si tingono di giallo, complotti e sotterfugi segnano i primi passi della coppia, giunti a questo punto sembra quasi di leggere Wilkie Collins e stupisce che Hardy sia riuscito a creare un'atmosfera simile.
Poche ore di matrimonio bastano a gettare i due nel dubbio e nell'incertezza.
Inizialmente non si riesce a capire quale possa essere la pietra dello scandalo, se l'età del giovane o la relazione illecita, che illecita non è mai, o quasi. Poi procedendo nella lettura si percepisce quanto l'abilità dello scrittore sia riuscita a tessere una rete di eventi che portano ad una serie di malitesi atti ad invischiare sempre più la coppia in una situazione incresciosa da cui sarà sempre più difficile venirne fuori puliti.
L'astronomia è il cardine della storia, il fato fa il resto.
Inevitabile pensare quanto, visti dall'alto dall'immensità celeste, i problemi di questi due esseri umani possano sembrare piccoli e insignificanti.
Cos'è in fondo un amore terreno di fronte alla vastità del cielo?
Perchè un giovane e promettente studioso dovrebbe sacrificare la propria vita e il proprio intelletto per una passione passeggera nei confronti di una donna che quasi sicuramente sfiorirà in poco tempo ai suoi occhi?
Queste le preocccpazioni morali e sociali che attanagliano Lady Constantaine quotidianamente.
Questi forse i punti di maggiore dissenso fra i lettori del tempo perchè, nonostante Hardy abbia fatto di tutto per mantenere la relazione nei limiti del lecito, può essere che la società dell'epoca avendo intuito che il limite era stato superetao anche solo lievemente, possa aver preso questo escamotage come un affronto ai lettori non leggendovi in esso la genialità di Hardy nel realizzarlo.
La torre del diciottesimo secolo situata nella contea del Wessex, di proprietà del marito di Lady Constantine, costruita forse sotto un accampamento romano o, secondo altri, sotto un antico campo nel quale i sassoni tenevano le loro assemble. Certo è che adesso, a distanza di anni, i resti di questi antenati fanno da concime alla fitta vegetazione che nasconde gran parte della torre adibita abusivamente dal giovane St. Cleeve ad osservatorio astronomico.
La storia della loro relazione illecita, che fece gridare allo scandalo dopo la prima pubblicazione del romanzo e costrinse l'autore ad una breve nota introduttiva atta a discolpare l'opera a distanza di tredici anni, nasce all'ombra di questa torre ambigua e misteriosa.
Un'unione osteggiata dal fato e dagli uomini, vuoi per la giovinezza del ragazzo, vuoi per la differanze di casta.
La vegetazione incolta sembra voler osteggiare fisicamente Viviette ad ogni sua visita notturna nella torre, stessa cosa fanno le tanto amate e temute stelle che distraggono l'astrologo dalla sua presenza fisica.
"C'è una misura a partire dalla quale si inizia a parlare di dignità; più avanti, c'è una misura dalla quale inizia la solennità; ancora oltre, si inizia a parlare di maestosità e più oltre ancora inizia lo spavento."
La relazione vera e propria ha inizio sotto i preggiori auspici e segna un brusco cambio di registro nella narrazione. Gli ambienti si incupiscono e si tingono di giallo, complotti e sotterfugi segnano i primi passi della coppia, giunti a questo punto sembra quasi di leggere Wilkie Collins e stupisce che Hardy sia riuscito a creare un'atmosfera simile.
Poche ore di matrimonio bastano a gettare i due nel dubbio e nell'incertezza.
Inizialmente non si riesce a capire quale possa essere la pietra dello scandalo, se l'età del giovane o la relazione illecita, che illecita non è mai, o quasi. Poi procedendo nella lettura si percepisce quanto l'abilità dello scrittore sia riuscita a tessere una rete di eventi che portano ad una serie di malitesi atti ad invischiare sempre più la coppia in una situazione incresciosa da cui sarà sempre più difficile venirne fuori puliti.
L'astronomia è il cardine della storia, il fato fa il resto.
Inevitabile pensare quanto, visti dall'alto dall'immensità celeste, i problemi di questi due esseri umani possano sembrare piccoli e insignificanti.
Cos'è in fondo un amore terreno di fronte alla vastità del cielo?
Perchè un giovane e promettente studioso dovrebbe sacrificare la propria vita e il proprio intelletto per una passione passeggera nei confronti di una donna che quasi sicuramente sfiorirà in poco tempo ai suoi occhi?
Queste le preocccpazioni morali e sociali che attanagliano Lady Constantaine quotidianamente.
Questi forse i punti di maggiore dissenso fra i lettori del tempo perchè, nonostante Hardy abbia fatto di tutto per mantenere la relazione nei limiti del lecito, può essere che la società dell'epoca avendo intuito che il limite era stato superetao anche solo lievemente, possa aver preso questo escamotage come un affronto ai lettori non leggendovi in esso la genialità di Hardy nel realizzarlo.
January 31, 2019
💫 Este mes ALIANZA EDITORIAL publico en castellano por primera vez este título .
La traducción es de Miguel Ángel Pérez ,con unas anotaciones a pie de página para lectores “Gourmet “que no se quieren perder nada...como citas concretas a grandes obras o traducciones fieles que necesitan una explicación para un lector actual sin perder la esencia de estar leyendo un clásico .
✨He visto las estrellas tooodas las noches que este libro ha estado en mi mesita .Hardy ambienta la historia de amor...un amor que pasa por muchas fases en una torre que se convierte en un observatorio astronómico.
✨Como es propio del autor el eje de la obra: es la pasión ,por la vida,el amor y el trabajo en este caso .
✨Soy fan del autor ...este es un Hardy que como siempre “atrapa”...lleno de giros y sorpresas ...que final!!!!!Y si no has leído nunca nada de él ,sin duda este es un excelente comienzo.
📖No te puede sorprender,lo habitual en el autor:una crítica a la sociedad y a las instituciones de la época,a la hipocresía.
📌✍🏻”Yo de ella me casaría con él,ya que su ruina los vuelve prácticamente iguales,y ahora él es de la misma posición social que ella ,COMO YA LO ERAN DE NACIMIENTO “.
La traducción es de Miguel Ángel Pérez ,con unas anotaciones a pie de página para lectores “Gourmet “que no se quieren perder nada...como citas concretas a grandes obras o traducciones fieles que necesitan una explicación para un lector actual sin perder la esencia de estar leyendo un clásico .
✨He visto las estrellas tooodas las noches que este libro ha estado en mi mesita .Hardy ambienta la historia de amor...un amor que pasa por muchas fases en una torre que se convierte en un observatorio astronómico.
✨Como es propio del autor el eje de la obra: es la pasión ,por la vida,el amor y el trabajo en este caso .
✨Soy fan del autor ...este es un Hardy que como siempre “atrapa”...lleno de giros y sorpresas ...que final!!!!!Y si no has leído nunca nada de él ,sin duda este es un excelente comienzo.
📖No te puede sorprender,lo habitual en el autor:una crítica a la sociedad y a las instituciones de la época,a la hipocresía.
📌✍🏻”Yo de ella me casaría con él,ya que su ruina los vuelve prácticamente iguales,y ahora él es de la misma posición social que ella ,COMO YA LO ERAN DE NACIMIENTO “.
February 8, 2016
I know that a lot of people have a problem with the way that Hardy enjoys just destroying his characters, that the endings of his books are difficult to read, but I really enjoy his writing. If you're looking for a classic to get into, this book is easy to read and isn't too long, as well as being engaging.
May 30, 2024
"But you will never realize that an incident which filled but a degree in the circle of your thoughts covered the whole circumference of mine. No person can see exactly what and where another's horizon is."
June 15, 2021
"Saturn is lovely; Jupiter is simply sublime"
Hardy writes cruelty to perfection.
February 15, 2022
,,<Ca greaua povara de griji sa o putem izgoni?>>
(...) La care dama de companie răspunse :<> (...) Regina refuză spunând : << Mi-as aminti că lumea e plină de gropi și că soarta mea trece pe lângă țintă>>".
(...) La care dama de companie răspunse :<> (...) Regina refuză spunând : << Mi-as aminti că lumea e plină de gropi și că soarta mea trece pe lângă țintă>>".
January 12, 2024
Foarte plăcut stilul lui Thomas Hardy cu nenumărate întorsături de situație pe care nu reușești să le intuiești încât sa devină o lectură predictibilă.
Practic, o carte despre o idilă care nu e menită să devină mai mult oricât s-ar fi străduit cei doi protagoniști - un astronom împătimit și o văduvă trecută de prima tinerețe.
Practic, o carte despre o idilă care nu e menită să devină mai mult oricât s-ar fi străduit cei doi protagoniști - un astronom împătimit și o văduvă trecută de prima tinerețe.
February 2, 2020
According to Thomas Hardy, he wrote this book “to set the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe…” which seems like an Herculean task, but maybe not if your name is Hardy. This is far from my favorite Hardy book and yet it is still enchanting. Hardy's dialogue is real and witty. His settings are tangible and lovely. His characters are flawed. And I always come away feeling a gut punch. As he often (always?) does, Hardy makes a strong, critical commentary on societal and religious rules of his day.
Two on a Tower is a unique story about Viviette and the object of her desire, and astronomer named Swithin. Viviette buys Swithin new, better equipment, which he accepts but only after telling her that science is his only true love. This statement does little to dissuade Viviette and soon the two are bound together, in love. Unfortunately their love is not seen as appropriate as Viviette was only recently widowed and Swithin is nearly a decade younger. As is typical of Hardy their troubles only compound, and the love story isn't a smooth sailing, happily ever after. And, for me, that makes the book all the richer.
Two on a Tower is a unique story about Viviette and the object of her desire, and astronomer named Swithin. Viviette buys Swithin new, better equipment, which he accepts but only after telling her that science is his only true love. This statement does little to dissuade Viviette and soon the two are bound together, in love. Unfortunately their love is not seen as appropriate as Viviette was only recently widowed and Swithin is nearly a decade younger. As is typical of Hardy their troubles only compound, and the love story isn't a smooth sailing, happily ever after. And, for me, that makes the book all the richer.
September 17, 2012
What intrigued me about this book was Hardy's characterization of the hero as a budding astronomer in the 18--'s. There are some fantastic dialogs between the two main characters about the stars and universe. Their sentiments in describing the experience of studying an infinite abyss of stars ring true even today.
The story centers on the character of Vivette Constatntine, falling in love and ultimately having a relationship with Swithin St. Cleave, a man almost 10 years younger than herself.
I really enjoyed Hardy's presentation of this scenario. While there wasn't much surprise in the directions the plot took, Hardy's fine writing relates realistic characters and one can't help but sympathize with the twists and turns manifesting in their lives.
I was very eager to read through and find out the ultimate fate of these mismatched lovers.
The story centers on the character of Vivette Constatntine, falling in love and ultimately having a relationship with Swithin St. Cleave, a man almost 10 years younger than herself.
I really enjoyed Hardy's presentation of this scenario. While there wasn't much surprise in the directions the plot took, Hardy's fine writing relates realistic characters and one can't help but sympathize with the twists and turns manifesting in their lives.
I was very eager to read through and find out the ultimate fate of these mismatched lovers.
August 20, 2017
WTF just happened??? Oh Mr Hardy, your novels are so tempestuous. You act like you're going to give us a charming little love story and then you pull the rug out from us and we smack into the floor with our faces. At least that's what I seemed to have experienced with this...
December 14, 2023
Give me a copy of this book that doesn't contain the last 20 pages, I'll give it 5 stars and call it a favorite.
did-not-finish
December 18, 2024I wanted to read something that might be categorised as a ‘classic’ before the end of the year, but after trudging through no more than a quarter of this over the course of a week, it’s probably time to admit defeat. Described as a ‘slightly built romance’ in Hardy’s preface, it’s about a lonely married (but abandoned) woman and an astronomy-obsessed young man who form a bond, then fall in love, and are beset by various complications. I’ve enjoyed the descriptions of the cosmos and how the narrative juxtaposes that with the relative insignificance of the characters’ lives. But those moments are few and far between, and the meat of the story is just not interesting enough: Lady Constantine and Swithin aren’t compelling, or sympathetic, or believable. There’s obviously a reason why this doesn’t come up when people talk about Hardy’s great works. I’d have been better off picking a well-known one I haven’t yet read, or simply rereading Tess again.
May 13, 2023
3.5/5
March 18, 2023
Hardy never disappoints. Another great read although it finished rather abruptly!
August 6, 2022
Nu îi văd rostul cărții ăsteia cap coadă. E o ea și un el plus un turn. E o idilă în turn. Și atât 😒 Ah, și stele. Multe stele.
Am trecut cumva peste miile de metafore și descrieri dar am dat de dialoguri fără substanță, seci și plictisitoare. Dacă tot sunt îndrăgostiți porumbeii aceștia, de ce nu se simte asta din cuvintele rostite? De ce e atât de seacă interacțiunea lor? Dada, totul se petrece demult tare, dar asta nu înseamnă că nu exista și atunci romantism de calitate. Nu a fost deloc pe placul meu.
Apoi ca să ajung la un final atât de absurd! Nu își are rostul cartea asta.
Am trecut cumva peste miile de metafore și descrieri dar am dat de dialoguri fără substanță, seci și plictisitoare. Dacă tot sunt îndrăgostiți porumbeii aceștia, de ce nu se simte asta din cuvintele rostite? De ce e atât de seacă interacțiunea lor? Dada, totul se petrece demult tare, dar asta nu înseamnă că nu exista și atunci romantism de calitate. Nu a fost deloc pe placul meu.
Apoi ca să ajung la un final atât de absurd! Nu își are rostul cartea asta.
May 16, 2014
From BBC Radio 4 - Classical Serial:
Dramatisation by Jon Sen of Thomas Hardy's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers in the West Country.
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
And the audio version is available at LibriVox.
Dramatisation by Jon Sen of Thomas Hardy's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers in the West Country.
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
And the audio version is available at LibriVox.
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