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The Two Towers
A BBC radio full-cast dramatization of the second book in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brian Sibley's famous 1981 adaptation, starring Ian Holm and Michael Hordern.
Audiobook
Published January 1, 1961
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About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien
786 books77.3k followersJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien: writer, artist, scholar, linguist. Known to millions around the world as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent most of his life teaching at the University of Oxford where he was a distinguished academic in the fields of Old and Middle English and Old Norse. His creativity, confined to his spare time, found its outlet in fantasy works, stories for children, poetry, illustration and invented languages and alphabets.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
April 20, 2019
4.5 stars! The Two Towers has always been my favourite of the series and listening to it in this way is nearly as fantastic as reading the actual book.
April 9, 2018
4 stars. I really enjoy listening to the adapted versions, but something is lacking. Review to come.
January 31, 2020
Excellent, as always.
April 12, 2021
"Go to Minas Tirith and save my people!"
The Two Towers does not suffer from second book syndrome. Starting where the Fellowship of the Ring left off, the original group is scattered. Frodo and Sam are heading to Mordor together, Merry and Pippin have been taken by the orcs, and Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn are trying to find their friends. They have lost two of their group already and their hearts are heavy with sorrow and fear.
With so many stories to balance, it would have been easy for this part of the dramatisation of the books to be a flop. But it manages to faithfully bring the stories together, organising them in such a way that we can keep up with all of the characters as they go their separate ways.
Some new characters are introduced, particular favourites being Faramir (Boromir's brother), and Treebeard and the other Ents. Stephen Thorne voicing Treebeard is iconic and he had the perfect voice for the part. All of the actors shine as always, but I feel like Peter Woodthorpe as Gollum is excellent. Interestingly he was also the voice of Gollum in the 1978 film. Gollum has a big part to play in this book, and Woodthorpe manages to convey how corrupted by the ring Gollum has become. He is a villain, and yet he is to be pitied. Gollum's constant arguing with Sam and his passive aggressive behaviour towards the hobbits is at times hilarious.
"Sneaking! Hobbitses always so polite."
Everything has been leading up to the war that we know is coming, and in this book we get our first true battle, at Helm's Deep, where we see just how far the friendship between Legolas and Gimli has developed since they left Rivendell. They now ride to Minas Tirith, where Aragorn will fulfil his destiny.
Even in war, there are moments that make me smile. The ongoing banter between two characters in particular.
I can't wait to start the Return of the King, where my girl Éowyn will get to shine. But I am also sad, knowing that this journey is coming to an end. How nice it has been to spend a little time with these friends again.
Read my review of The Fellowship of the Ring to find out a little of my history with this adaptation of the books.
July 14, 2022
Na momente po malo zbrzano i naivno ali sve u svemu ODLICNO!
Vidi se da je ovu radio dramatizaciju tolkinovog dela radio neko ko se razume u njega i ko ga je zaista i procitao i doziveo. I dok cekamo amazonovu blesfemiju evo necega u cemu se zapravo moze uzivati i 40 + godina kasnije.
Vidi se da je ovu radio dramatizaciju tolkinovog dela radio neko ko se razume u njega i ko ga je zaista i procitao i doziveo. I dok cekamo amazonovu blesfemiju evo necega u cemu se zapravo moze uzivati i 40 + godina kasnije.
June 23, 2024
Enjoyed reading this story. I found this book much easier to read than the first book. Probably because the first book had a lot of history and background to cover.
August 6, 2024
5 stars, nothing less. Listen to the audio book! Andy Serkis does a wonderful job as narrator, and what's better than having Gollum being voiced by Gollum!
March 20, 2017
Excellent drammatization. Especially when you're in for a long car trip on spring break which really is the best time to subject (lovingly introduce) children to great literature because they can't run away and they howl when you start the dreaded next chapter of LOTR but howl even louder when it's time to turn it off because you've arrived and grandma is owly because you've already kept dinner waiting ten minutes just sitting in the driveway....
April 16, 2023
Really a testament to the films that this 13-hour adaptation feels like a more abrupt abridgement. Still the soundtrack slaps in all its '80s weirdnesses and the drama shines through in the great voice-acting with more of the voice of the original book therein and the narration. Most of all the songs! (Gollum is especially perturbing)
PS in fairness 4 is probably harsh as it is quite comprehensive and the voice-acting superb. Methinks a great choice for a family walking holiday in the fells and dells, driving between sightly locations. A taster to pique little ones' Middle Earth fascination hehe
PS in fairness 4 is probably harsh as it is quite comprehensive and the voice-acting superb. Methinks a great choice for a family walking holiday in the fells and dells, driving between sightly locations. A taster to pique little ones' Middle Earth fascination hehe
November 5, 2024
Man this audiobook was literally so epic. I don't remember it too, too much since for a fair bit of listening to it I was commuting and often had to rewind and I'm pretty sure I'm missed some important dialogue, but it was really good! This version of the audiobook was good (as per usual)— definitely a darker tone compared to the first audiobook. The ending was phenomenal and I did really like the inclusion of the soundtrack and the music/singing towards the ending. Can't wait to move onto the last part!
April 1, 2024
The book series kinda drags in the middle ngl
July 11, 2025
I listened to the BBC dramatised adaptation. Story enjoyment rating: 9/10 Christian Faith rating:-0.5/3 (clean but some of the magic gets close to being similar to New Age practices today, although that might not have been the case when The Lord of the Rings was originally written)
December 20, 2024
The annual Christmas re-listen ❤💍🧙♂️
January 7, 2018
(4.5)
Wow, this book was definitely a rollercoaster ride. From start to finish, it was action and danger and suspense. There was never a dull moment in this novel, and it was just really great. It really made me have more of an appreciation for some of the characters, such as . He was just a super sassy character, and I never really noticed it before. He puts people in their place, and he does it so wonderfully. It was just my everything.
I also really loved my girl Arwen because she is badass, and I just really love her character. She wants the opportunity to go into battle and fight, and I absolutely loved that about her character. I really loved the relationship between Sam and Frodo, as always. Sam is just a precious little cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs...
But a character that I really despised was, of course, Smeagol. He was annoyingly throughout the entirety of this novel because he was guiding Frodo and Sam on their journey. I never trusted him, and I never will trust him. All he cares about is that stupid ring. If he is telling you to do something, you likely should do the opposite because he doesn't give a damn about anything other than that stupid ring. And I just hated every second of being in his presence.
The audiobook was absolutely fantastic, as always. It has a full cast with sound effects and music, and it literally sounds like I am listening to a movie, which I really loved. These audiobooks are my favorite audiobooks I have ever listened to, actually, and I highly recommend you get the BBC production audiobook of it because that specific version is what I listened to. Its nowhere near as long as the other ones because it cuts out the (s)he said/did and you just hear it. That really cut down on the time, so this audiobook was actually only about 4.5 hours long, and I just listened to this all the way through. It was just amazing.
I really enjoyed this second installment of the trilogy, and I am so excited to finally dive into the final part of this trilogy. I know it is going to be super epic and action-packed, and it is just going to be great!
Wow, this book was definitely a rollercoaster ride. From start to finish, it was action and danger and suspense. There was never a dull moment in this novel, and it was just really great. It really made me have more of an appreciation for some of the characters, such as . He was just a super sassy character, and I never really noticed it before. He puts people in their place, and he does it so wonderfully. It was just my everything.
I also really loved my girl Arwen because she is badass, and I just really love her character. She wants the opportunity to go into battle and fight, and I absolutely loved that about her character. I really loved the relationship between Sam and Frodo, as always. Sam is just a precious little cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs...
But a character that I really despised was, of course, Smeagol. He was annoyingly throughout the entirety of this novel because he was guiding Frodo and Sam on their journey. I never trusted him, and I never will trust him. All he cares about is that stupid ring. If he is telling you to do something, you likely should do the opposite because he doesn't give a damn about anything other than that stupid ring. And I just hated every second of being in his presence.
The audiobook was absolutely fantastic, as always. It has a full cast with sound effects and music, and it literally sounds like I am listening to a movie, which I really loved. These audiobooks are my favorite audiobooks I have ever listened to, actually, and I highly recommend you get the BBC production audiobook of it because that specific version is what I listened to. Its nowhere near as long as the other ones because it cuts out the (s)he said/did and you just hear it. That really cut down on the time, so this audiobook was actually only about 4.5 hours long, and I just listened to this all the way through. It was just amazing.
I really enjoyed this second installment of the trilogy, and I am so excited to finally dive into the final part of this trilogy. I know it is going to be super epic and action-packed, and it is just going to be great!
December 14, 2011
I always thought the casting was pretty much perfect, for this radio adaptation of Lord of the Rings. I only have one I seriously quibble with, and that's Denethor -- everyone else sounds just about perfect. I thought I'd have more trouble with comparing it to the movie, but it's a totally different experience, and just as good as I remember. It surprises me how little abridgement was needed, and how much of the detail of Tolkien's world remains. Gollum had my housemates knocking on my door to find out what the heck that creepy sound was!
This went by surprisingly fast, actually. I don't think I ever got past about here when listening to my grandmother's copies, so from here on out it's new ground. It's very easy listening, though -- I went through seven sides in the course of one day's crocheting.
This went by surprisingly fast, actually. I don't think I ever got past about here when listening to my grandmother's copies, so from here on out it's new ground. It's very easy listening, though -- I went through seven sides in the course of one day's crocheting.
October 17, 2016
You gotta love this BBC radio full-cast dramatisation! It was so atmospheric and Gollum was done so freaking well, I actually liked this 'disembodied' version of him better than the on-screen version.
Surprise, surprise book-Frodo is as much of a tool as the movie-Frodo. He ain't got' nowhere without Sam! And a special shoutout to Treebeard! He actually has more charisma than most YA male protagonists.
And I'm just gonna leave this here because this meme is life.
Surprise, surprise book-Frodo is as much of a tool as the movie-Frodo. He ain't got' nowhere without Sam! And a special shoutout to Treebeard! He actually has more charisma than most YA male protagonists.
And I'm just gonna leave this here because this meme is life.
December 13, 2020
Good audio adaptation.
I had forgotten that Hobbits were afraid of heights, I think. So Sam and Frodo climbing all those stairs to Shelob's lair must have been unsettling for them.
Also, Treebeard is my favorite.
I had forgotten that Hobbits were afraid of heights, I think. So Sam and Frodo climbing all those stairs to Shelob's lair must have been unsettling for them.
Also, Treebeard is my favorite.
June 30, 2022
An excellent adaptation of the second installment to LOTR trilogy. All narrators in this dramatisation are excellent, and I particularly enjoy the musical aspects involved, something missing when I read it properly.
borrowed
October 11, 2019Hoopla audiobook: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/1...
February 26, 2020
Very good dramatization. They pivot back and forth between the companies, which actually makes the part of Frodo, Samwise and Gollum not so tedious and mundane.
November 5, 2021
Another beautiful audiobook! I loved to listening to the story and being immersed inside it! Can't wait to listen to the next one!
March 25, 2024
a fantastic dramatization of the book series.
i personally think that it works better if you have read the entire book series before and then listen to this abridged version instead of doing a whole reread since i do think that the is abridged version while well done does miss some fantastic moments from the full story itself.
but as it is it’s fantastic.
its very well read with a great cast of voices and nice characterizations.
definitely a recommendation!
i personally think that it works better if you have read the entire book series before and then listen to this abridged version instead of doing a whole reread since i do think that the is abridged version while well done does miss some fantastic moments from the full story itself.
but as it is it’s fantastic.
its very well read with a great cast of voices and nice characterizations.
definitely a recommendation!
December 13, 2022
Re-reading this for the 4th or 5th time I think. This time through I was deeply impressed with how much more I like Theoden in the book than the movie. Frodo is much more brave and wise than the movies depict him. And the ents have a power and magic that the movies don’t do Justice either.
I caught the differences better because I finished this re-read shortly after a rewatch of the films with my family at Thanksgiving. This book takes the world building of The Fellowship, cranks the excitement several notches and makes you really glad you pushed through the barrows.
I caught the differences better because I finished this re-read shortly after a rewatch of the films with my family at Thanksgiving. This book takes the world building of The Fellowship, cranks the excitement several notches and makes you really glad you pushed through the barrows.
January 3, 2025
I think I prefer this to the first book since you know the characters more and Frodo and Sam being led by Gollum is very funny. I also really enjoy how it jumps around from different perspectives while still maintaining a chronological timeline.
June 27, 2021
"There's too much shouting." - my dad in the car as we listened to the first half. Cannot deny it. Felt like the charm of Fellowship only came back in the second half.
Read
July 12, 2022The singing in this is truly elevating the text
September 23, 2022
This was a great experience. Hearing this old touch to audio dramas, really is inspiring.
October 30, 2022
4.5 stars ⭐️
March 14, 2023
This might be for you but it was NOT for me. This series is putting me in a reading slump. I’m not reading the next book.
June 13, 2025
A rousing adventure. The long walk to Mordor w Gollum is hard to read at times. I don't like witnessing my lil' Hobbits be so careworn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews