Map of the Misty Mountains, from the original English version of the book.

T is for J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) He is best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a number of short fiction books as well. But he was also a university professor and published a good many translations and scholarly articles. After his death his son Christopher published a good deal of the background information his father put together in the invention of Middle-Earth.

My own first introduction to his work was before his books were officially available in this country, when my uncle brought copies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings back with him from England. I have lost track of how many times I have reread them.

I tweeted quotes from The Two Towers (and put them on my facebook pages) last week, and here are the contexts of those quotations. Note that all are from the books, and differ somewhat from the movies.

“I must cool myself and think, for it is easier to shout stop! than to do it. Treebeard has worked himself up about Sauruman, and feels he needs to cool off.

“I am not altogether on anyone’s side, because nobody is altogether on my side.” Treebeard talking to the hobbits, and explaining that no one else cares for the trees as he does.

“He has a mind of metal and wheels, and he does not care for growing things.” Treebeard’s description of Sauruman.

“If that happened I had rather not be on the other side.” Merry, thinking about an aroused Ent.

“We may help the other peoples before we pass away.” Treebeard, thinking that the Ents might accomplish something in their last march.

“Songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time: and sometimes they are withered untimely.” Treebeard, wishing that the songs about the Ents finding the Entwives could come true.

“I can’t stay with you. Not after what I did to you.” Bowling, Tourist Trap. Timi feels guilty over what Zhaim did by taking over his body, and refuses to accept that it wasn’t really his fault.