A Sense of History: Crossroads by Simon J. Cook

[daughterofshadows]

For the past several months as part of our A Sense of History column, Simon J. Cook has been pursuing the question of towers in Tolkien, beginning with the mysterious tower of "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" and into the towers of Tolkien's Ardaverse, currently The Lord of the Rings.

This month's column follows the "red thread" of Valarin aid to the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings. Returning from the West-gazing palantír of Elostirion, which is said to show a glimpse of Varda in Valinor, Gildor Inglorion bestows a blessing of Varda's protection upon Frodo. Simon traces the miraculous influence of Varda, revealed via a palantír in a tower, throughout the ensuing narrative that becomes an essential element of The Lord of the Rings.

You can read Simon's article "Crossroads" here.