Summary: The brave, bold outlaw, Robin Hood, and his band of merry band of followers roam through Sherwood Forest robbing the rich and aiding the poor.

One of my favorites since I was a kid. Believe it or not, this is truly based on the ancient ballads it claims to be (I did an undergrad thesis on Robin Hood many years ago, *before* that Costner disaster). It also served as the basis for the Errol Flynn film. It's always fun to go back and reread.

Not that I have a Robin Hood obsession or anything. ( )

Another silly children's version

Another favorite childhood book of mine, these are no Disney tales scrubbed clean for tiny tots. The tales contained in this volume are hearty and full of cracked pates and naughty knaves. There is blood, and fighting with quarterstaff; there is also good humor and laughter. The language is stiff with "thine," "methinks," "quoth," and other medieval-sounding vocabulary that would be difficult for many modern children to overcome, but I always loved the ancient romanticism it evokes. When the merry men break into song, the songs are complex.

Robin Hood is not portrayed as infallible or always victorious, but his is a lovable character. Although the well-known legend of his deeds states that he stole from the rich to give to the poor, in this book, Robin is quite often described as stealing from the rich and keeping for himself. He does aid those who seek him, but the band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest seem to have more than enough for themselves.

It is told how, as a youth, Robin killed a man in anger and how this event sent him into the forest as an outlaw. Robin's feud with the Sheriff of Nottingham is described in parallel with many other of his brave doings. Many tales relate how various members of the outlaw band were recruited by Robin. Near the end of the book, Robin meets King Richard and is made an Earl. Richard pardons all the merry men and takes Robin with him to London. This is how the book ends, except for the Epilogue which, the author kindly explains, "speaks of the breaking up of things." Not reading this Epilogue, the reader is left with the warm feeling of a good story well told, and believes that Robin (as Robert the Earl) lives happily ever after. There is no harm in that, and many readers will prefer this ending. But for some, like myself, who need to go on, the final fate of Robin is very sad and not at all what the Hollywood film people would like.

Set in the early 1200's in England, much of the animosity of the Saxons for their Norman conquerors is evident. Saxons are described as strong, hard-working, honest, poor people, often with light yellow hair and blue eyes. The aristocracy, especially the clergy, are greedy, cowardly, rich, and fat. However, Robin appears to come from a higher class than the average Saxon. He takes to leading "his" men easily and they treat him as master without question (even joyously). Part of the terms of their service is that he provide them with clothing twice or three times a year, in addition to money, food, and protection within Sherwood. When King Richard makes Robin an Earl, he grants the other outlaws only the status of game-keepers, even Little John who was Robin's right-hand man.

One other thing that readers may find surprising is the almost total absence of female characters. Trained as we are on the feature film versions of the Robin Hood legend, we expect the ravishing Maid Marian to have a larger role in this book. Yet, she is mentioned only twice, and never appears.

The illustrations in this book are fantastic and when I think of Robin Hood it is these color drawings that come to mind. Some are smaller, but most are one- or two-page spreads, showing mainly heroic battles with the men in Lincoln green prominent. ( )

Howard Pyle's illustrations, though surprisingly dark, are absolutely without peer. ( )