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Two on a Tower
- Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
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Two on a Tower
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Summary
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.
Critic reviews
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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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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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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chris
- 29-11-14
A good old fashioned love story
What made the experience of listening to Two on a Tower the most enjoyable?
The would they, won't they element.
What other book might you compare Two on a Tower to, and why?
Not sure. It stands on its own
What does Michael Kitchen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Michael is a great narrator, brings the story to life.
Any additional comments?
Great story, with a twist at the end
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mama Lucy
- 01-06-20
Lovely twists and turns but not Hardy’s best.
Michael Kitchen reads this beautifully, and never allows the slightly overblown dialogue to sound forced. Hardy often has a contemporary feel - not this one. The very last sentence is worth the wait, I felt!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacki
- 18-09-20
Brilliant
To me this was not one of Hardy's most well known novels but once I started listening, that didn't matter. It grabbed me from the first few minutes and didn't cease to let me go until the the last moment, having said that, the story will stay with me forever. The plot was excellent and Hardy at his best for his descriptive genius. Absolutely loved it.
The only reason I give it 4 stars for performance is that, although Michael Kitchen's narrative was very, very good, he did not characterise which I missed, having listened to other Hardy novels, but that is the only reason otherwise would have been 5 stars all the way.
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1 person found this helpful
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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
- 04-06-20
An overlooked Hardy
What joy to stumble upon this story! A great narration of a tale which, as ever with Hardy, is still resonant.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Sharon
- 01-04-24
Dreadful
Narration good but story awful. Could have been over and done with in half an hour. Couldn’t warm to any of the characters and the pathetic storyline just went on and on. Very pleased it wasn’t the first Hardy I’d dipped my toe into because it would have been my last.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- rachamy
- 28-12-23
Not up to Hardy's usual standard
I enjoyed the story and it was well narrated, but it's not one of Hardy's best. It has the hallmarks of his fiction but just felt a bit lacking. I have enjoyed other's of his far more.
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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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wendy
- 28-08-23
Excellent story
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me listening .The ending was rather unexpected. The reader was excellent.
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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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