J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers was first published in 1954. It is the second volume of The Lord of the Rings and followed The Fellowship of the Ring, which appeared earlier that year.
The book continues the story after the Fellowship has been divided. Its narrative follows characters dealing with the consequences of that separation, including Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam. The volume also develops the military and political conflict surrounding Rohan, Isengard, and Mordor.
The title has prompted discussion because Tolkien’s own notes considered different arrangements for the volumes. The two towers most directly associated with the finished book are Orthanc and Minas Morgul, although Tolkien’s publication history and internal design evolved during composition.
The final volume, The Return of the King, was published in 1955. Together, the three volumes form the complete text of the novel Tolkien wrote as a sequel to The Hobbit.