Two on a Tower

📘 About This Book

How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About Two on a Tower by Thomas Hardy Two on a Tower (1882) is a novel by English author Thomas Hardy, classified by him as a romance and fantasy and now regarded as one of his minor works. The book is one of Hardy's Wessex novels, set in a parallel version of late Victorian Dorset. Two On A Tower is a tale of star-crossed love in which Hardy sets the emotional lives of his two lovers against the background of the stellar universe. The unhappily married Lady Constantine breaks all the rules of social decorum when she falls in love with Swithin St. Cleeve, an astronomer who is eight years her junior. Her husband's death leaves the lovers free to marry, but the discovery of a legacy forces them apart. This is Hardy's most complete treatment of the theme of love across the class and age divide and the fullest expression of his fascination with science and astronomy. In the 1895 preface Hardy wrote, "The scene of the action was suggested by two real spots in the part of the country specified, each of which has a column standing upon it. Certain surrounding peculiarities have been imported into the narrative from both sites." Wimborne was the location of the village of "Warborne", and Charborough House was the location of the "Welland House" in Two on a Tower. 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".

📖 Summary

Thomas Hardy's novel Two on a Tower, originally published in 1882 and presented in this 251-page unabridged 2017 edition complete with illustrations, font adjustments, and a helpful author biography, offers readers a compelling journey into late Victorian romance and fantasy. Although classified by the author himself as one of his minor works, the book stands out within Hardy's celebrated collection of Wessex novels for its unique setting in a parallel version of late Victorian Dorset. The narrative is a classic tale of star-crossed love that brilliantly contrasts the fragile, intense emotional lives of its central characters against the vast, indifferent background of the stellar universe. At the heart of the story is the unhappily married Lady Constantine, who boldly defies the rigid rules of social decorum of her era by falling deeply in love with Swithin St. Cleeve, a passionate young astronomer who is eight years her junior. As their relationship unfolds, the vast cosmos serves as a humbling backdrop to their earthly struggles, ambitions, and societal pressures. Eventually, Lady Constantine's husband passes away, seemingly clearing the path for the lovers to finally marry and live happily. However, the unexpected discovery of a legacy complicates their future, introducing new trials and testing the depth of their devotion to one another. Through this modern publication, contemporary readers are invited to rediscover Hardy's imaginative prose, enhanced by visual illustrations and a contextual biography that enriches the reading experience. The novel weaves together themes of class disparity, age difference, scientific ambition, and the relentless constraints of Victorian morality. By juxtaposing human romance with the immense scale of astronomy, Hardy creates a memorable exploration of how tiny human affairs appear when viewed against the infinite expanse of space and time. This edition preserves the 100 percent original content of the unabridged text while ensuring modern accessibility through thoughtful design choices.

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✍️ About the Author

Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet known for tragic novels set in the fictional region of Wessex, including 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd'.

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