Click for full-size.
TWO ON A TOWER: A romance
by Hardy, Thomas
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1882. In three volumes. Pp. [iv]+246+[iv]+240+[iv]+224(last colophon); rebound in brown half calf, spines lettered and ruled in gilt around raised bands, lighter brown cloth boards, a trifle marked; all edges sprinkled red; later endpapers; ex library copy, with several scattered stamps, a couple of tiny edge splits, small piece torn from bottom fore-corner pp. 15/16 Volume I, a few leaves faintly creased, a little light foxing and occasional slight soiling; Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, London, 1882. First edition. Purdy 41; Sadleir 1116. *Originally published serially in the Atlantic Monthly, Boston, from May to December 1882. For the publication in book form, Hardy devised his own advertisement, in which he described the novel as 'the story of the unforeseen relations into which a lady and a youth many years her junior were drawn by studying the stars together; of her desperate situation through generosity to him; and of the reckless coup d'audace by which she affected her deliverance' (Purdy, p. 44).
Synopsis
Lady Constantine breaks all the rules of social decorum when she falls in love with the beautiful youth Swithin St Cleeve, her social inferior and ten years her junior. The tower in question is a monument converted into an astronomical observatory where together the lovers 'sweep the heavens'. Science and romance are destined to collide, however, as work, ambition and the pressures of the outside world intrude upon the pair. In what Sally Shuttleworth calls 'a drama of oppositions and conflicts', Hardy's story sets male desire against female constancy, and 'describes an arc across the horizon of late nineteenth-century social and cultural concerns: sexuality, class, history, science and religion'.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Seller
- Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller
(AU)
- Seller's Inventory #
- 116418
- Title
- TWO ON A TOWER: A romance
- Author
- Hardy, Thomas
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1882
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller
Unless otherwise described, all books are in the original cloth or board binding, are demy or crown octavo in size, and are published in London. All books are in very good, or better, condition with defects, if any, fully described. Traditional trade terms apply. Items are offered subject to prior sale. All orders will be confirmed by email or facsimile.
A full postal service is available. Packing, postage and insurance charges are extra.
If you're dissatisfied with your
purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the
order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30
days of the estimated delivery date.
About the Seller
Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller
Biblio member since 2022
Melbourne, Victoria
About Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller
The bookshop has an impressive but informal salon style and an open-door policy. It is situated in the heart of Melbourne's premier street and is hailed as one of Australia's best bookshops.
Browsers are always welcome, and we are happy to provide personal service when required, including assistance in the selection of gifts for all occasions.
Browsers are always welcome, and we are happy to provide personal service when required, including assistance in the selection of gifts for all occasions.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Rebound
- A book in which the pages have been bound into a covering replacing the original covering issued by the publisher.
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
Frequently asked questions
This Book’s Categories
Collecting the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Born in the midst of the Great Depression, the theme of the 1939 World’s Fair was “The World of Tomorrow” - a theme that captured the hearts of a generation. Check out the maps, souvenirs, and other ephemera on Biblio!
Collecting Signed Books
Read through our tips, hints, and information on collecting books signed or inscribed by the author or illustrator.
