How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Excellent
Advantages:
Passionate, unique
Disadvantages:
The ending isn't as 'satisfying' as it could be
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Two On A Tower must be one of the most under-rated of Thomas Hardy's novels. Whilst it's not perhaps the same standard as Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Woodlanders, it's still a fantastic novel and it's a shame that most people have never heard of it. It's hard to compare it to Hardy's better-known works, as I can't quite put my finger on all the differences - the passion and realism is still there, but in a different way than it is in Jude The Obscure or Tess.
Two On A Tower is essentially the age-old love story between two people whose circumstances presents a social barrier, in this case class and an older woman being the issues, but Hardy's skill elevates it. The novel was written in 1882, ten years after Hardy's first published novel, and his experience already shows. Some writers are simply a pleasure to read and, in my opinion, Hardy is one of them: his descriptions are excellent, his characters are sometimes painfully human and the passion of his writing is palpable.
The love story plays out against a vast background: that of the cosmos. Swithin St Cleeve is a budding astronomer with hopes of forging a great career. He uses an old memorial tower belonging to the local estate of Welland House, where Viviette resides. Viviette, or Lady Constantine, is in the unenviable position of not knowing whether or not she's a widow. Her husband is lost in Africa, his fate unknown, leaving her in uncertain limbo. Upon meeting Swithin, an interest in both astronomy and the young astronomer is sparked.
Viviette is eight years older than Swithin (although this was extended to ten in later editions), which was virtually unheard of at the time of its setting (latter-mid nineteenth century). In fact, it still causes more raised eyebrows now than an older man dating a younger woman. Her affections are reciprocated, but their situation is too complicated to publicize at this stage.
Even when it is reported that Viviette's husband is dead, this fails to simplify matters: his debts and bequests to random family members leave Viviette almost penniless. They marry in secret, but decide to wait to announce their marriage until Swithin has established his career and the differences in their status have lessened. Meanwhile, they continue their clandestine meetings at the observation tower.
Anyone even remotely familiar with Hardy will guess that things do not go according to plan. A variety of obstacles crop up, not least of which are a letter from Swithin's now-dead great-uncle warning him away from Viviette and a misunderstanding involving a bishop. Never since Romeo and Juliet was there such a pair of star-crossed lovers.
The focus is very much on the two main characters, creating an intense and personal story that the reader gets absorbed into. This won't be to everyone's taste, but I like it and it gives the novel a 'rawness' that appeals to me. It's a very succinct novel, which is somewhat unusual for Hardy, and it works extremely well.
I loved the characters, whose personalities are unique and realistic, despite being shaped by their situations. Swithin is passionate, idealistic and hardworking, only occasionally immature and very charming. Viviette is especially attracted to this; having been worn down by an unfulfilling marriage to a man she wasn't in love with. As a result, she is overly-cautious and cares too much about what other people think. You get the impression that she was once a confident, vivacious woman and this shines through occasionally, but now she has been damaged and altered by the harsh realities of life.
I wholly recommend Two On A Tower to all Hardy fans and anyone who likes similar novels. I read the Penguin Classic edition, which gives excellent notes and an interesting introduction (read after you've read the novel though, as it gives away a lot of the plot). Its RRP is £10.99, though Amazon has it for £7.14. You might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere, but I found that it was the most difficult of Hardy's novels to get hold of and Amazon's probably your best bet. I thought it well worth the money - it is a masterpiece.
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