Two on a TowerPublished in 1882, his ninth novel, Two on a Tower is Hardy's most complete and daring treatment of the theme of love between characters of different classes and ages. Viviette, the married lady of the manor, is nine years older than Swithin St Cleve, the 20-year old `Adonis-astronomer', a `lad of striking beauty, scientific attainments, and cultivated bearing', the orphaned son of a curate who married the daughter of a family of farmers. The story of their love, both complex and remarkable, involves adultery and accidental polygamy. On publication some reviewers considered the novel to be immoral, and one suggested that the treatment of the Bishop of Melchester might be regarded as a `studied and gratuitous insult aimed at the Church'. This sensational tale is informed throughout by the astronomical images and reflections which were preoccupying Hardy at the time of the book's composition. This is the first critical edition of Two on a Tower. Based on a study of the manuscript and Hardy's revised printed versions, it presents a text in which many variants make their appearance in print for the first time. - ;Published in 1882, his ninth novel, Two on a Tower is Hardy's most complete and daring treatment of the theme of love between characters of different classes and ages. Viviette, the married lady of the manor, is nine years older than Swithin St Cleve, the 20-year old `Adonis-astronomer', a `lad of striking beauty, scientific attainments, and cultivated bearing', the orphaned son of a curate who married the daughter of a family of farmers. The story of their love, both complex and remarkable, involves adultery and accidental polygamy. On publication some reviewers considered the novel to be immoral, and one suggested that the treatment of the Bishop of Melchester might be regarded as a `studied and gratuitous insult aimed at the Church'. This sensational tale is informed throughout by the astronomical images and reflections which were preoccupying Hardy at the time of the book's composition. This is the first critical edition of Two on a Tower. Based on a study of the manuscript and Hardy's revised printed versions, it presents a text in which many variants make their appearance in print for the first time. - |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appeared asked astronomer Bishop Helmsdale Bishop of Melchester brother cabin CHAPTER church churchyard Cleeve Cleeve's column comet constellations dark dear Desperate Remedies dome door Dorset equatorial eyes face fear feeling Gatrell Glanville gone grandmother hand Hannah Hardy's Haymoss heard Hezzy husband interest Jude the Obscure knew Lady Constantine leave letter light Little Welland live looked Louis manuscript marriage married Martin Michael Millgate mind morning never night novel observations observatory once parish passed perhaps person Pinion position replied revision Rings-Hill Speer round scientific seemed serial showed Sir Blount soon stars stood suppose Swithin St Tabitha Lark telescope tell thing Thomas Hardy thought Torkingham tower Transit of Venus turned variable stars Viviette Viviette's voice waited walked Warborne Welland House Wessex Edition whispered wife Wimborne Minster window wish woman words young youth