Early Hardy, good for those, like me, who are determined to read all 14 of the novels. Read "Under the Greenwood Tree" instead if you are new to Thomas.

Good, but I can see why this is classified as one of Thomas Hardy's "lesser novels."

Typically, I feel like his plots - though invariably tragic, frustrating, and nearly impossible at times - at least mimic the irony of real life in such a way that makes them highly relatable. That is part of what makes them so appealing. It is a little cathartic to read about other people living a series of unfortunate events, sometimes with redemption, sometimes without ...

This book followed those same almost formulaic tragic twists and turns. Okay. Until the last chapter - which edged into extreme melodrama and almost read like a parody of a soap opera. It was too much. It about did me in and ruined the first 95% of the book for me.

Furthermore, for as much as Thomas Hardy is considered "progressive" (for the Victorian era) in his treatment of lower classes and of women and relationships, and for as much as he created a "fresh" female character in Lady Viviette Constantine and made her do all the daring things (they really weren't all that daring by modern standards), it almost felt like he repeatedly punished her character for doing those exact things or for even considering a life that would not have been typical of an "old," well-classed widow in her mid-thirties. And he didn't necessarily punish her simpy with social or family pressure, which would be expected. No, he created "acts of God" to thwart her each time she looked up. I just found it interesting.

It was still good. Not his best characterizations perhaps, but still an emotional, moving, and well-written story overall. Poor Viviette.

As always, the atmospheric sense of place was wonderful. And the scientific and poetic descriptions of astronomy and the night sky were pretty fun all on their own.

“So that, whatever the stars were made for, they were not made to please our eyes. It is just the same in everything; nothing is made for man.”

3.5/5
Oh, Hardy, if only you could have been consistent and kept your literary gaze upon stars and astronomy throughout this novel! I have a complicated relationship with Hardy: On the one hand, I dislike his treatment of his female protagonists, he seem to dislike women in general and almost constantly gives them devastating destinies in his novels while being condescending in myriad of ways. On the other hand, his mastery of prose is so exquisite, his descriptions and love for the rural Britain and its inhabitants are so prominent and delicious. There was so much promise of excellence in this novel. Well...

The two from the title are Constantine (not subtle with the naming there, aren't we, Hardy?), a 29-years-old widow, a smart and emotional woman and constant to the point of destruction, and Swithing (means 'strong' in Old English), a 20-year-old astronomer on the brink of his career. They fall in love on his observation tower and are forced to hide their love.

And thus ensues the sensationalist, ten-plot-twists-in-a-chapter soap opera narrative that Katherine Morland from Austen's Northanger Abbey would relish. Astronomy is almost forgotten, our backs are turned to the stars and now we look upon human folly and societal hypocrisy. So, no more tower, just the two.

What kept me going? A majestic interpretation of the audiobook by Michael Kitchen (adding him to my favorites) and aforementioned Hardy's excellent prose. And I can't say I'm not prone to over-the-top soap operas, I just didn't want them in my Victober reads.

I cared about the characters and wanted to slap them to wake up to their lives and do something almost every five minutes. Regardless of everything, I did care about them.
So, where does this leave me and Mr. Hardy? I now officially consider him my frenemy.

This book spoke to my soul more than any other and i will cherish it forever. The stellar space and astronomical background moved me like crazy and the love between Swithin and Viviette was so pure... Why did you have to disappoint me like this, Swithin? This story feels to me still accurate at our time and that's Hardy genius.