Title: The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) Author: J. R. R. Tolkien Published by: George Allen & Unwin Published on: November 1954 Pages: 398 pages
It takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.
Chapter IV: Treebeard
You've got to listen to this first before reading the review pls. I promise you won't regret it. And don't forget to turn on the subtitle.
Backstory time!
When Tolkien submitted the manuscript of The Lord of the Rings to his agent, he didn't give them a trilogy but one lengthy and very wordy book. The agent of course saw the commercial problem had it been published in a one book format, hence the decision to divide it into three books. Each consists of two volumes -- which isn't too apparent in Fellowship of the Ring. In The Two Towers though, each volume follows a linear path converging on the same timeline.
In short, Volume 3 is about the search for Pippin and Merry by Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. Volume 4 is about Frodo, Sam, and Gollum's journey to Mordor.
Continuing from where we left off, the moment Frodo and Sam decided to continue the mission to Mordor on their own, the remaining members of the fellowship were attacked by Orcs and Uruk-hais sent by Sauron and Saruman (at this point it's difficult to discern which belonged to whose master). This culminated in the kidnap of Merry and Pippin. Our favourite trio: Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas then went to save both hobbits. Why oh why? BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FELLOWSHIP IS WHY.
In their journey, they crossed paths with the Riders of Rohan. Rohan was a small kingdom of Men that had used to be part of Gondor but then wanted independece. However, they remained Gondor's greatest ally. Its people known as Rohirrim, or Horse-lords, Rohan often supplied horses to Gondor especially during times of war with Orcs in the borders. This kingdom was apparently in great need. King Theoden's mind was poisoned with lies and travesties by Grima Wormtongue, Saruman the White's right-hand man. Saruman used to be the charismatic leader of the Wizards in Middle-Earth. Yet his love of power and pleasure had blinded him so that he wanted the Ring for his own gain.
In the same timeline yet a different path, Frodo and Sam were almost lost looking for the route to Mount Doom in Mordor, with Gollum at their tail, waiting to attack and steal the Ring at a moment of slightest weakness. Realising that Gollum did enter Mordor and managed to go out in one piece, Frodo and Sam captured him and made him their guide. And the eeriest thing happened. Though Gollum clearly wanted the Ring for himself, he too didn't want Sauron to have it. So he was willing to guide them to Mordor.
Would Frodo, Sam, and Gollum manage to enter Mordor undetected -- especially with the threat of those who might want and take the Ring by force loomed close? What about Saruman's ambition? And was it true that, having been under the Ring's influence, Frodo and Gollum could understand and trust each other at some level?
EGGLYSIS
Gots to say, a common saying that the penultimate book of a series is often the weakest probably came first from The Two Towers. Dividing two different journeys on the same timeline into a separate volume seems efficient from the writer's perspective, but tiring from the reader's. It felt so much like reading two books after all. After having your adrenaline pumped to its highest at the climactic battle at the end of Volume 3, readers are basically forced to start again at the beginning with Volume 4.
But Tolkien is Tolkien, and no matter how many complaints I might have had reading it, this book is still perfect. Again I would like to reiterate that reading LotR is like going on a journey. Readers are taken to enjoy the world Tolkien has created -- the beauty and wonder of its nature, the myth, the history, even the prose. The highlight of this book isn't the battle of Helm's Deep, but the kingdom of Rohan that rose again after having been manipulated for God knows how long by Saruman. The peace- and nature-loving Ents who couldn't stay still looking at the damage Saruman did to their world. Not Frodo and Sam charging head first into Mordor and defeating Orcs and Sauron. No. These two very small heroes who I am sure cast big shadows in Middle-Earth history crossed beyond enemy's line in silence, undetected. This is a story that glorifies the unsung heroes, while letting us know that wars are not often the way to win. And this is why to this day, LotR still has a message all need to hear.
Overall, The Two Towers...
Click here to read the review in English.