
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
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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Must Read
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Star-crossed lovers
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Amazing story
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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.
Two in a Lovely Lovely Tower Looking at Stars
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and a very good story too.
beautiful
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Thomas Hardy Got Me Again!
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If you could sum up Two on a Tower in three words, what would they be?
almost classic... almostWhat was one of the most memorable moments of Two on a Tower?
The final sceneWhich character – as performed by Michael Kitchen – was your favorite?
Lady ConstantineWas 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 pointsAny 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
Good Story Great Narration
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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.
Jane Austen meets Hardy
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Michael Kitchen’s precise reading and meticulous pacing bring attention to Hardy’s phrasing and language, which is so masterful. I liked that, but it is true that one is very conscious of the reader all the time, and sometimes that seems like too much.
Great with a few reservations
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Beautiful Hardy
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