Two On A Tower
Thomas Hardy
Read by Tadhg
The plot concerns two – literally star-crossed – lovers: Swithin St. Cleeve, a very young amateur astronomer, and Viviette Constantine, an unhappily married and abandoned woman 8 or 9 years his senior. Each night Swithin climbs the old tower of the title, in the grounds of the Constantine estate. Lady Constantine, whose husband has been absent some years on an extended hunting and exploring journey to Africa, joins the young man in his stargazing, and supports his astronomical ambitions by buying him equipment, though his dreams of scientific renown are disappointed. Their relationship then deepens and takes several twists and turns.(Summary by Tadhg) (9 hr 15 min)
Chapters
Preface | 2:54 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 01 | 22:01 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 02 | 17:17 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 03 | 8:59 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 04 | 21:28 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 05 | 13:48 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 06 | 12:22 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 07 | 13:46 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 08 | 12:46 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 09 | 14:47 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 10 | 8:12 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 11 | 7:35 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 12 | 12:12 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 13 | 11:33 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 14 | 14:52 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 15 | 13:24 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 16 | 13:49 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 17 | 8:00 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 18 | 15:02 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 19 | 17:33 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 20 | 6:58 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 21 | 8:39 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 22 | 13:20 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 23 | 10:57 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 24 | 9:30 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 25 | 15:10 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 26 | 9:33 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 27 | 13:42 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 28 | 17:38 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 29 | 10:22 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 30 | 13:37 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 31 | 7:48 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 32 | 13:05 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 33 | 10:36 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 34 | 16:31 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 35 | 18:10 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 36 | 12:08 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 37 | 11:32 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 38 | 16:45 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 39 | 16:11 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 40 | 12:55 | Read by Tadhg |
Chapter 41 | 27:58 | Read by Tadhg |
Reviews
Suffocating social restriction set against the vastness of space
VRRCR
Excellent reader! the story creates a suffocating portrayal of life in late Victorian England, limited by social convention and frightened by appearance. As always in Hardy's work the inequality of women is stark, although this is a less sympathetic and more stereotypical few than that expressed in some of his books. The ending is depressing rather than sad, and entirely unbelievable! Indeed the ending lets both the story and the characters down. Still the reading was wonderful!
Terrific Story and Reading
Byron Lee Scott
What a brilliant writer! I enjoyed the scientific aspects of the tale. Once again, as so many stories from this period, so much sexual repression, religious moral guilt, shame, and controlling arrogance. It helps me appreciate the openness of thepresent times, and view the realities of that period, which one may romanticize. The story has a number of twists that kept me interested. Thank you for the wonderful reading.
Evocative story read by Tadhg Hynes
Private Listener
Sorry to report that I feel that this novella is rather light weight, especially for Thomas Hardy. I don't feel that the characters were developed enough, nor was the story as a whole at all exceptional due to its lack of depth. Nonetheless, the talented Tadhg Hynes lends his well recognised, pleasantly timbered voice and brogue as narrator, whom I rate with FIVE STARS.
Thank you Tadhg
Backie
Tadhg read Hardy's brilliant writing really well. I was captivated until the end. Thank you A super story of two lovers with twists and turns and cliff hanging chapters with very near misses. It is such fabulous writing. I had to stop often to take a note of what had been written because I was so captivated with the descriptions and the messages.
Excellent reading of Hardy classic
TheBookworm
Beautiful variation on Hardy's theme of the rural character who has aspirations beyond his/her station. Tadhg's smooth delivery and Irish accent are well suited to this story of love lost, gained, and ... well, it's Thomas Hardy so don't expect a happy-ever-after ending. Well done indeed, Tadhg! More please. TheBookworm (Manchester, UK)
Not Hardy’s best
dsuden
I love Thomas Hardy books, but this is not my favorite of them. It is kind of a light story, has some interesting twist and turns, but has nothing near the sweep and imagination of some of his other work. The ending is just a disappointing thud. The narrator is great as usual.
great reader, not-great book
C
First, any reading by Tadhg Hynes is exceptional. The book starts put like it's going to be a study of class in Victorian England but turns into a soap opera in which the hero and heroine are perpetually almost getting caught.
Sad
A LibriVox Listener
The book is very well narrated and I enjoyed most of it however out of all the possible endings the author picked the most depressing and cruel one possible. So sad and empty. I’m quite disappointed I listened to it.