Why did the Nazgul not succeed in Bree and on Weathertop?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Quote:Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin
Um, no. That was Bill Ferney, the Isengarder, and (probably) Harry Goatleaf.

Really? What's your support for this theory?

'What will happen?' said Merry. 'Will they attack the inn?'
'No, I think not,' said Strider. 'They are not all here yet. And in any case that is not their way. In dark and loneliness they are strongest; they will not openly attack a house where there are lights and many people - not until they are desperate, not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us. But their power is in terror, and already some in Bree are in their clutch. They will drive these wretches to some evil work: Ferny, and some of the strangers, and, maybe, the gatekeeper too.'


PJ's Ringwraiths are too corporeal, too physical: he tried to make them undead warriors rather than spectres of fear. If you think of the Black Riders as *ghosts* (cf Letter 210) they make much more sense.