Two on a Tower

By: Thomas Hardy

Narrated by: Michael Kitchen

Exclusively from Audible

Two on a Tower is Hardy's ninth novel and contains perhaps his most complete use of the theme of love across the class and age divide, to beautifully depict Hardy's reverence for science and astronomy.

The unhappily married Lady Constantine breaks all the rules of social etiquette when she falls in love with young Swithin St. Cleeve, an astronomer and her social inferior. Despite their differences that society deems unacceptable, together, from an astronomical observatory, the lovers 'sweep the heavens'. But work, ambition and the pressures of the outside world intrude upon the pair.

Swithin is faced with a cruel choice. The death of Lady Constantine's husband leaves them free to marry but it's not that simple. He has the option of furthering his education with an inheritance that will propel his career into the highest levels of astronomical science. Does he choose love or ambition?

Within Two on a Tower, Hardy creates a wonderful and timeless contrast between the infinite reaches of the universe and the infinitesimal scale of human affairs. Hardy's intention, in his own words, was to 'set the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe'.

Hardy was a Victorian realist whose novels and poetry were greatly influenced by Romanticism, especially the poet William Wordsworth. His critical thoughts on Victorian society can be seen throughout much of his work.

Narrator Biography

Michael Kitchen is an accomplished actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his role as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in the ITV drama series Foyle's War (2002-2015). He has also starred as Bill Tanner in the Bond films GoldenEye (1995) and The World Is Not Enough (1999) as well as Berkeley Cole in the film Out of Africa (1985). Other notable television appearances have included roles in BBC Four's critically acclaimed comedy series Brian Pern (2017) and Channel 4's comedy Hacks (2012). Michael Kitchen's stage performances have included Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and roles in Tom Stoppard's plays On the Razzle and Rough Crossing. He has narrated many classic and contemporary audiobooks including Thomas Hardy's Two on a Tower, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and Robert Lewis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The foremost novelist of his time." (Geoffrey Harvey, The Complete Critical Guide to Thomas Hardy)

Must Read

I love the way Hardy introduces characters and you not only hear the story of the main characters but also of their loved ones and friends.

Nah

Good ole Hardy loves to remind us of the absurdity and injustice of life. I mean, I guess that is sometimes necessary. However, not what I was looking for on a Tuesday night.

Beautifully written but…

Kind of senselessly tragic for my tastes. I’d really like to have seen some unexpected plot twists, development and resolutions. Thomas Hardy’s wording and descriptions are unsurpassable, but his insights seem unfortunately predictable as the clueless astronomer never really evolves into more than just that and the heroine pays beyond measure, without committing any crime. I’d really really like to have seen her find some level of contentment and warmth with the bishop instead of his turning out to be just as much of a trial as her first husband. Sure, it happens just as this story outlines, but who wants to just remain disillusioned and sad at the end of a well written story as they are with real life? We know that good things are coming Swithin’s way, but Viviette simply gets slapped down and ultimately crushed by the universe for being beautiful. Bleh.

Star-crossed lovers

Took a little time getting into the story.. but it showed both high morals, low morals and a perplexing story of what age differences can do to a couple. A woman full of passion, yet conscious of her being married before and ‘wiser’ about a lot of things, trying to hook up with an innocent young man, who is naive about romance and sex, draws out a complex story bound to entertain.

Amazing story

This is one of the best audible books ever. I have read a lot of Hardy but never before discovered this gem

Two in a Lovely Lovely Tower Looking at Stars

Michael Kitchen did a magnificent job of narrating Thomas Hardy's heart breaking love story. For any guy, or non-perfumed and non-powered male who happens to read my first sentence, I hasten to add, this is a guy's book, a real man's book. It is about astronomy and gadgets and stuff. Old Tom knew a great deal about the science. OK they fall in love looking at the stars, this older unhappily married woman and the young single man with a single minded devotion to astronomy. They got married in secret because of the difference in their status which changes occasionally. Then, it turns out their marriage wasn't quite valid due to some odd or another husband being still alive at the time. Thomas Harding wrote a delicious book which if you do not like says a great deal more about yourself than about Thomas Harding.

Finally, I want to say something about Micheal Kitchen. He made this book live! I have read this book many times but Mr. Kitchen made me understand things I have overlooked before. There are things which can only be brought out by the human voice. Perhaps a story can only be truly told around a campfire 30,000 years ago. Mr. Kitchen and Mr. Harding were at that campfire. I was there also and I am very thankful to them both.

beautiful

some of his phrases are so stunningly beautiful...you just think: how did he think of saying it like that?

and a very good story too.

Thomas Hardy Got Me Again!

This little-heard-of Hardy novel ranks above Madding Crowd and Greenwood Tree, near Tess/Mayor/Native. Happy Surprise!

Good Story Great Narration

If you could sum up Two on a Tower in three words, what would they be?

almost classic... almost

What was one of the most memorable moments of Two on a Tower?

The final scene

Which character – as performed by Michael Kitchen – was your favorite?

Lady Constantine

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not quite, the narration was spot on but the story had some slow points

Any additional comments?

This is generally regarded as a minor work of Hardy's. If that's true then it's still better than most famous authors' masterpieces. I fell in love with the heroine and the setting and Hardy had a lot to say from which he did not shy away.
It wasn't a perfect book. The hero Swithin, never quite materialized for me and I'm not sure how much I felt the romance. I loved her but not really 'them'. There were a few slow spots too and the very last sentence of the book was for me a huge disappointment and a mistake on Hardy's part in my humble opinion.
Still, the book is very much worth reading. 3.5 stars for the book. 5 stars for Michael Kitchen's performance

Jane Austen meets Hardy

This is the typical tale
of star-crossed lovers set amid the backdrop of astronomy. Highly predictable. My least favorite of Hardys books due to the superficial character development and silliness of the storyline.