For generations, J R R Tolkien’s words have brought to thrilling life a world of hobbits, magic, and historic myth, woken from its foggy slumber within our minds. Here, he tells the tales in his own voice. Of historic note, these selections from ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are based on a tape recording Tolkien made in 1952, which inspired him to continue his own quest to see his vision in print.
Arctic explorer, survival expert and naturalist Freddy Spencer Chapman was trapped behind enemy lines when the Japanese overran Malaya in 1942. His response was to begin a commando campaign of such lethal effectiveness that the Japanese deployed an entire regiment against him, hunting for him as they did for no other. He was wounded, and racked by tropical disease. His companions were killed, or captured...