Two on a Tower: A Romance (Penguin Classics) by Hardy, Thomas (1999) Paperback

by Zillah Macdonald

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

Reviews

[Finny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this whole book in one sitting, and why you may ask? Because I knew if I put it down I'd never touch it again. The social norms of modernity are so laughably different that I can't even fathom why secrecy must be kept. In 2026 WE are proudly proclaiming the love we have for everyone in our lives.

The only way to describe this book is a V. Lenin quote. “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

Lazy ending, without merit. The cover is freaking awesome though.

1.75/5

[James Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy it or find it as compelling as the other books. Swithin is less of a character than other men in other Thomas hardy novels (deliberately so). I found that the novel or first part took a long time to get going and I know that in other hardy stories events occur that impact and lead to characters suffering different fates, I just found Swithin's uncle's letter a little bit too convenient, perhaps not even that but how everything perfectly moved along. The issue of when Lady Constantine's first husband died was quite striking though. I still enjoyed it though and I love a story where astronomy is a very strong theme.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, lots of commentary by Hardy on societal norms and expectations and with a truly sad ending.

[Sis Seanz ℘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lonely aristocratic woman and a poor young astronomer fall in love under the stars but class, scandal, and fate keep pulling them apart.