TWO ON A TOWER

Swithin St. Cleeve and Lady Constantine have a challenging relationship. Because of social pressure, neither party is free to commit to the other. Leighton Pugh's focused narration keeps the listener's attention fixed on the events of the story. He captures the somber tones of Hardy's prose without becoming monotonous. Through his vocal characterizations, Pugh aptly builds the characters' personalities. Young Swithin, an aspiring astronomer, is passionate and earnest; his slight rural accent immediately contrasts his social standing with Lady Constantine's. Pugh renders Lady Constantine's ambivalence by making her sound nervous at times and forceful at others. His attention to dialogue adds insight into the characters' motivations. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]