FORGET Balboa and Bond. For me, the greatest hero of all literature and film is the diminutive Bilbo Baggins.
By summoning cast iron courage and animal-like cunning, the otherwise hairy-toed hawfling sure-foots his way to glory, conquering the fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.
I remember, as a kid, becoming engrossed in Tolkien's classic - long before Hollywood had cottoned on to its yarn-ripping credentials.
As I've grown older, the same tale has taken on new meaning. My appetite for bedtime reading has gone undiminished, and from those times spent in Mount Doom, my literary voyage has now taken me to the foothills of the humanities.
What I've learned thus far is simple. In the vast tapestry of human existence, the interplay between chaos and order is a theme that has long-captivated minds.
Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer