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Episode details

Radio 4,23 May 2021,57 mins

SeriesTwo on a Tower

Part 2 - Marriage

Hardy's Women

Available for 131 days

During 2021 on Radio 4, Hardy’s Women takes a fresh look at the novels of Thomas Hardy, through the eyes of some of his female protagonists Two On A Tower Adapted by Anita Sullivan With the death of Sir Blount in Southern Africa, Viviette and Swithin are finally able to marry. They marry in secret, deciding to wait for the impoverished Swithin to make his name as an astronomer and for Viviette to observe a period of mourning before they share their love with the world. Tragically, the stars are not aligned. Blount's death has been mis-reported, and Swithin has a secret... Hardy's scandalised his contemporary readers with this love story across age, class and legal barriers, settting "the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe." CAST Lady Viviette Constantine - Olivia Poulet Swithin St Cleeve - Callum Scott Howells Louis Glanville - Tommy Sim’aan Tabitha Lark - Scarlett Courtney Bishop Helmsdale and Mr Cecil - Tony Turner Parson Torkingham - Keiron Self Haymoss and Sir Blount - Marc Danbury Mrs Martin and Mrs Poulter - Jane Slavin Directed by John Norton A BBC Cymru Wales production

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