Overview

He robbed from the rich to give to the poor, or so the legend goes. But who was the outlaw known as Robin Hood? How did his legend develop, and how has it changed over the passing centuries? This new title in the Osprey Myths and Legends series takes a detailed look at the famous outlaw, beginning with a retelling of the early ballads that established his stories. From there, the book explores how the legend grew and how famous names such as Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, and Alan-a-Dale became associated with Robin Hood. It also enters the perilous world of Robin Hood scholarship with a critical analysis of the case for a ‘historical’ Robin Hood and a review of the mostly likely candidates. A perfect primer for young and old alike, this book covers both the fact and the fiction of Britain’s most famous outlaw.

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9781472801258

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Reviews

As part of Osprey's new Myths and Legends series, Smith deconstructs the legend of Robin Hood, taking it back to its roots as a collection of 15th-century ballads and examining the fundamental elements. In crisp, concise, accessible language, he retells many of the most enduring Robin Hood stories from its formative periods--both the original A Gest of Robyn Hode, and later evolution in the 16th, 17th, even 19th centuries. Alongside the adventures of Robin, Little John, Will Scarlet and the rest, Smith adds historical and cultural details, placing them in context with the times and with the ongoing narrative as a whole; he even takes a stab at identifying the most likely candidates for the real Robin. As an introduction and thorough grounding to an enduring legend, this is perfect: it covers enough territory to familiarize any reader with the essential themes and components, while keeping it simple enough to appeal to any age group. Copious photos and art help to flesh things out. While Smith could have gone into more depth in the section concerning modern reinterpretations (though that might have proven prohibitively complicated); as it is, he hits the highlights of the cinematic legacy. Whether an entry point for new fans, or a leaping-off point for further research, this focus on Robin Hood is ideal. --Publishers Weekly

As part of Osprey's new Myths and Legends series, Smith deconstructs the legend of Robin Hood, taking it back to its roots as a collection of 15th-century ballads and examining the fundamental elements. In crisp, concise, accessible language, he retells many of the most enduring Robin Hood stories from its formative periods--both the original A Gest of Robyn Hode, and later evolution in the 16th, 17th, even 19th centuries. Alongside the adventures of Robin, Little John, Will Scarlet and the rest, Smith adds historical and cultural details, placing them in context with the times and with the ongoing narrative as a whole; he even takes a stab at identifying the most likely candidates for the real Robin. As an introduction and thorough grounding to an enduring legend, this is perfect: it covers enough territory to familiarize any reader with the essential themes and components, while keeping it simple enough to appeal to any age group. Copious photos and art help to flesh things out. While Smith could have gone into more depth in the section concerning modern reinterpretations (though that might have proven prohibitively complicated); as it is, he hits the highlights of the cinematic legacy. Whether an entry point for new fans, or a leaping-off point for further research, this focus on Robin Hood is ideal. Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Neil Smith works as a freelance writer near Oxford, England. He holds an undergraduate degree in Classics & Mediaeval History from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Masters Degree in History from the University of Georgia in the United States of America. Neil also earned his PhD in History from the University of Georgia in 2011. Neil’s main interests are in military history and writing narrative history.

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