Having completed our journey through The Two Towers, in today's Sidecast episode Julia Golding pauses to reflect on the top five lessons she has taken from Tolkien’s craft as an author.

From the interlacing of multiple storylines and the careful maintenance of suspense, to the creation of epic, living landscapes, Julia explores how Tolkien handles the challenges of a middle volume with remarkable skill. She also reflects on the poetry of his prose and the depth of his themes, amongst the wealth of qualities that keep readers returning to Middle-earth again and again.

Tune in for this special, reflective episode before we prepare for the final leg of our journey as we take on The Return of the King.

00:00 Introduction: Completing the Journey Through The Two Towers
01:08 Lesson One: The Art of Interlacing Multiple Storylines
06:31 Lesson Two: Maintaining Tension Through Strategic Cuts
09:45 Lesson Three: Landscapes as Character
12:57 The Range of Color Palettes: From Fangorn to Mordor
15:13 Lesson Four: The Poetry Beneath the Prose
18:41 Lesson Five: Profundity and the Pull to Continue
22:04 Sam's Revelation: The Enemy as Person
24:55 What Makes a Hero: The Great Tales Never End
26:19 The Hero Who Follows His Heart: Sam's Ultimate Choice

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