The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of the Lord of the Rings - Softcover

‘Extraordinarily imaginative, and wholly exciting’
The Times

‘The story itself is superb’
Observer

‘A most remarkable feat’
Guardian

‘Masterpiece? Oh yes’
Evening Standard

‘An astonishing imaginative tour de force’
Daily Telegraph

‘A story magnificently told’
New Statesman

‘Tolkien was a storyteller of genius’
Literary Review

‘Amongst the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century’
Sunday Telegraph

'The Two Towers' is the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs.

Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin – alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

"Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century. If it is no more than an entertainment, we have seldom been entertained so well. The book presents us with the richest profusion of new lands and new creatures, from the beauty of Lothlorien to the horror of Mordor, adventures to hold us spell bound, and words of beauty and evocation to bring all vividly before us."
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

"Tolkien's invention of strange peoples, curious incidents, miraculous doings, is poured out in this second volume of his trilogy as exuberantly and convincingly, in a dreamlike way as ever. As the story goes on the world of Ring grows more vast and mysterious and crowded with curious figures, horrible, delightful or comic. The story itself is superb."
THE OBSERVER

"Tolkien was a storyteller of genius"
LITERARY REVIEW

The cover of this new edition of 'The Two Towers' is based on Tolkien's own unused sketch of 1954. It shows the One Ring above Mount Doom, flanked by the towers of Minas Morgul and Orthanc, while above it flies a Nazgul. The tengwar inscription in the centre reads, ' In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.' At the base of Minas Morgul are the nine rings of the Ringwraiths, while above it a crescent moon hints at the earlier name of the tower, Minas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, before it was taken and defiled by Sauron's forces. Above and beneath Orthanc, a wizard's pentacle and a white hand symbolise the influence of Saruman.