One day to rule them all

A belated happy Hobbit Day (celebrating Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ birthdays on 22nd September) to those who celebrate!

As a lifelong fan of Tolkien’s tales and the empowerment of literacy, I didn’t know about Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week (established in 1978) until recently (last week).

The Hobbit and Melbourne House’s illustrated interactive video game for the ZX Spectrum home computer was my gateway into Tolkien’s Middle-earth, followed by Ralph Bakshi’s animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and BBC Radio 4’s audio adaptation starring acting royalty!

During the spring and summer school holidays, my dad would take me on a forest trail (lost to time) as I underwent years of rehabilitation in the wake of a life-changing childhood trauma. As he carried me part of the way on his back, I imagined I was Frodo with Strider on a quest to destroy the one ring to rule them all.

I’m enjoying the second season of The Rings of Power on Prime. The penultimate episode is one of the best hours of television this year. The prequel series may have its detractors (what doesn’t?), but being immersed in Middle-earth is an autumnal treat and shimmers with shadowy menace in Dolby Vision.