Two on a Tower – Thomas Hardy

"The universe is a plot of God."

Lady Constantine, a lonely woman whose husband is away, falls in love with Swithin St. Cleeve, a young and ambitious astronomer who uses the tower on her estate for his observations. Their romance is played out against the backdrop of the stellar universe, highlighting the insignificance of human conventions and the vast indifference of the cosmos to their personal tragedy.

Hardy's novel is a unique blend of romance and astronomy. It uses the stars to gain perspective on human suffering, creating a poignant story about the conflict between scientific ambition and the demands of the heart.