J. Walker McSpadden (1874–1960)

I’ve always been a fan of the Robin Hood legends, and I’ve read plenty of the modern adaptations of the stories, but somehow I’ve missed reading anything even close to the traditional myths until now. The legends originated as part of the oral storytelling traditions in England, so obviously there are no “definitive editions” that collect all the legends, but this book seems to tread relatively close to what could be considered authentic. McSpadden draws heavily on Howard Pyle’s show more compendium for a unified set of characters, but I was pleased to see that the stories didn’t seem too watered down. Obviously there is little graphic violence, but Robin Hood does kill Guy of Gisbourne and is depicted as a man who picks fights with anyone who falls into his path. At some points I wondered if he was near-sighted, since he even managed to pick a fight with his lady love, Maid Marion… What I really enjoyed about this book, though, are Greg Hildebrandt’s wonderful illustrations. Some of the models I recognize from the Brothers’ Lord of the Rings pieces, but Greg’s costuming, settings, and characters pair well with the legends and serve to enhance the collection of stories. show less

It's hard to believe this was written 130 years ago. Despite the deliberate use of some easily understandable archaic language, this text feels fresh, contemporary, and vibrant. The thrills come fast and lively as it bounces along from one exciting Sherwood adventure to the next.

Another unfinished book. It's basically a collection of short stories centred on a similar plot - Robin (or one of his merry men) encounter someone, fight, and then invite him to join their band. There's lots of quothing, and thous as though the 19th century author was attempting to evoke the language of the 12th century. It did put me to sleep a number of times, but I just couldn't stand it anymore.
I also found the Librivox reader was very stilted. A lot of other listeners seem to like show more him, but for me he only made the book more difficult to listen to. show less

I bought it primarily for the Hildebrandt illustrations--glossy and sunlit--but discovered a really lovely, comprehensive retelling of the Robin Hood legend(s). If you've heard it, it's in here--the duel with Little John, holding the Sheriff captive for dinner in the woods, saving friends from the gallows. It's also really fun to read if you're up on your Plantagenet family history (recommended: Alison Weir's Eleanor of Aquitaine).