Two on a Tower

Although Two on a Tower is a minor Thomas Hardy work, minor Thomas Hardy is much worth a listener's time. In this novel, set in Wessex, the rich Lady Constantine lives a boring existence, also a chaste one, forced on her by an absent husband who may indeed be dead. But then she meets young Swithin, a naively ambitious astronomer, who shares with her his passion for the stars. Soon the two are passionate about each other, and the malevolent fate so often found in Hardy's novels begins to demand its seemingly inevitable retribution. A sad story, this, read perfectly by Michael Kitchen. He handles the major characters and the minor ones with careful distinction and sensi-tivity to their education and station, and is clearly sympathetic as Lady Constantine's few moments of happiness give way to tragedy. A first-rate reading of a truly fine novel, even if less well known than other Hardy works. T.H. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Swithin St. Cleeve and Lady Constantine have a challenging relationship. Because of social pressure, neither party is free to commit to the other. Leighton Pugh's focused narration keeps the listener's attention fixed on the events of the story. He captures the somber tones of Hardy's prose without becoming monotonous. Through his vocal characterizations, Pugh aptly builds the characters' personalities. Young Swithin, an aspiring astronomer, is passionate and earnest; his slight rural accent immediately contrasts his social standing with Lady Constantine's. Pugh renders Lady Constantine's ambivalence by making her sound nervous at times and forceful at others. His attention to dialogue adds insight into the characters' motivations. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine