TWO ON A TOWER. A Romance

London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1882. 3 volumes. Scarce First Edition. 8vo, in handsome near contemporary three-quarter tan morocco over wove cloth boards, the spines with gilt stippled raised bands between gilt framed compartments, four compartments with central gilt tools, two gilt lettered, additional gilt rules at the tips and lettering at the tail, softly marbled end-leaves, t.e.g. 246; 240; 223 pp. A very appealing and handsome set, quite fine internally with far less then typically mellowing to the paper and that only at the edges, the original half-titles retained, the antique bindings with only trivial evidence of age, sturdy and sound with fine and firm hinges. first Edition, one of Hardy's Wessex novels, set in a parallel version of late Victorian Dorset. It is a tale of star-crossed love in which 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 ten 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.
Because the book defied the social norms of the day, upon release it was called shocking, and even repulsive by some critics. Hardy wrote in a letter to Edmund Gosse on 10 Dec 1882, “I get most extraordinary criticisms of T. on a T. Eminent critics write & tell me in private that it is the most original thing I have done...while other eminent critics (I wonder if they are the same) print the most cutting rebukes you can conceive—show me (to my amazement) that I am quite an immoral person...”