Two on a Tower
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Two on a Tower
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Narrated by:
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Michael Kitchen
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By:
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Thomas Hardy
About this listen
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.
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about Two on a Tower
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- K. Sewell
- 07-05-23
Misogynistic
I initially enjoyed this love story with the background of astronomy. Most of Hardy’s novels have given me hours of pleasure. However…. Slight spoiler coming up:
It’s hard for a modern woman to see that in Hardy’s time, a woman was over the hill at age 35, and not worthy of a man’s love, let alone passion. The ending, quite frankly, is ridiculous, and hugely disappointing. Putting women on the scrap heap for not looking like a fresh rose, and having them die for the sake of a convenient ending is really cheating the reader who has invested time in the novel. Not that endings have to be love, sweetness and light, on the contrary, but this was really a cop-out, not worthy of Hardy. Also, no mention whatsoever of the fate of the little boy, whether good or bad. A big oversight. Much as I love Hardy’s clear description of his times, thumbs down for this one.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-02-19
Beautiful prose
An engrossing story that draws you in although the main characters are thinly drawn. By chapter 32 I was beginning to lose sympathy with the main character and felt there would never be a resolution. However patience paid off and the ending was fitting. Much is left India and left to the imagination. It is perhaps not one of Hardy's best works but it nonetheless impressive and far superior to much modern fiction.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Marvellous Maud
- 10-03-23
Not the best of Hardy, but typically dour
Michael Kitchen reads this so beautifully and his characterisation is superb, especially of the country folk, that it was tempting to trudge on with this long and lugubrious tale of woe. In fairness, I made the mistake of reading a plot synopsis and therefore felt I couldn’t bear going through the rest of the book. Hardy is known for his fateful sadness and this is no exception. The prose is beautifully crafted and the descriptions vivid, yet the fate of the characters is simply implausible. As the story progresses, the twists become less likely. I gave up.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mrs M.
- 12-04-22
Meandering but well read
The story went on and on but as a lover of Hardy, I was happy to see it through (or hear it through…). Michael Kitchen’s story-telling helped make this novel work as an audiobook as his voice is rich and his pace perfect. One can tolerate a slightly tedious plot if it is being read aloud to you by a skilled reader!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon King
- 28-06-23
Hardy, you are a beast
Just when I thought it was safe to read another Hardy,… starts slowly, not as descriptively rich as Hardy’s more famous novels, but the plot is spun with the expertise of a spider
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Geriwood
- 13-10-21
Autumn listening
What a treat, on an Autumn day, to listen to this classic yet little-known Hardy tale impeccably read by Michael Kitchen. In keeping with the theme of the story, it was even nicer to listen in the garden in the evening whist gazing at the heavens .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 12-06-23
I really enjoyed this…
…despite the other reviews. Probably not typical Hardy, but a very entertaining listen nevertheless. Well read
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roderic
- 08-06-15
Interesting, but not one of Hardy's best
This was a mildly enjoyable listen, interesting for the astronomical aspects of the plot and the local dialogue. The plot was somewhat contrived and the prose in general not up to the brilliance of Hardy's better work such as "The Mayor of Casterbridge".
Michael Kitchen did a solid job of narration.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anna
- 22-03-22
Worth reading
I found the narrator quite annoying. He seemed to read in a rather offhand manner, as though he didn’t take the story seriously.
The novel is definitely worth a listen, but I did find it irritating. The Victorian premises of morality and the self sacrifice of women was just annoying.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- 20-11-23
From the past, heart intrigue
Not very interesting plot. style okay but not enthusiastically enchanting
A bit of a disappointment…
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