Robin in Fiction

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Kidnapkid	Robin in Fiction	Lead	[-]
Posts: 3 (02/22/08 08:02:22) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I was wondering what everyone's favorite (modern) books on Robin Hood are. For myself I'm going to have to go with Maid Marian by Elsa Watson is one of the best stories I have ever read. (On any subject.) I guess technically about Marian, her descriptions of Robin stuck with me long after I finished the book, and I've probably read it more time than any other book I own. (With the possible exception of Pride and Prejudice.) I always sorta wished that Elsa would write the same story from Robin's point of view. But sadly as far as I know she's never written anything else at all. (I hate it when really good writers never do anything else.) Anyway, what are your favorite books? K.Kid Kidnap Kid's Myspace Page The Outlaw of Sherwood: Robin Hood (A myspace group with no members)
lady archer		#1	[-]
Posts: 297 (02/22/08 16:32:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Sorry, Kid - and please don't hate me, but I hated Elsa Watson's Maid Marian. As another reader said before, when Marian mentioned that she wished England was a democracy - I also felt like throwing "the book across the room." But the worst section of the book, in my opinion, was the last quarter, when Marian -- the noble woman -- ran away from Robin and Sherwood forest and lived with a farming family, making them believe she was of their class. It was too unrealistic, and I believed it seemed...dispersed in sections. I honestly have not read much in regards to fictional Robin Hood stories (I read a lot of non-fiction, and not so much fiction, alas). I love history, so as far as Robin Hood books go, I really like Sir James Holt's work. I also admittedly love children's books on Robin Hood - in particular by J. Walker McSpadden and illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt. There are some Robin Hood romance novels I'd love to read - but some are difficult to find being out of print. (I live right near Powell's Books downtown Portland, and I still haven't checked there!) Last Edited By: lady archer 02/23/08 00:22:11. Edited 3 times.
nybor edoh		#2	[-]
Posts: 36 (02/23/08 19:33:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	American Art Nouveau illustrator Howard Pyle's offering on Robin Hood is not only a literary gem but also an artistic one. I personally like Robin Hood iconography, and Pyle's illustrations are sublime. Of course, his rendition of the legend is standard fayre, but for someone who never set foot in England, his work is a masterpiece. I have a wonderful copy and the green-grey linnen cover has a marvellous silver Art Nouveau Robin standing aloof. It is the pride and joy of my collection. Unfortunately, I find most 'modern' stories of Robin Hood frustrating, and although in their way they help keep the legend alive, they tend to be lacking in research particularly of the historical period they are supposedly depicting. I am just waiting for the time that the merry men etc all start doing 'kung-fu' and their eyes turn yellow and they become vampires!
lady archer		#3	[-]
Posts: 300 (02/24/08 15:47:34) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	nybor edoh wrote: Unfortunately, I find most 'modern' stories of Robin Hood frustrating, and although in their way they help keep the legend alive, they tend to be lacking in research particularly of the historical period they are supposedly depicting. I am just waiting for the time that the merry men etc all start doing 'kung-fu' and their eyes turn yellow and they become vampires! I agree with you, Nybor. The Robin Hood legend has been twisted in so many ways within "modern" fiction. Someone before on this board actually liked the idea of a "beast-slayer" Robin Hood, or a Robin Hood that rides the back of Dragons. Ridiculous, if you ask me.
1981Marcus		#4	[-]
Posts: 204 (02/25/08 09:06:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Henry Gilbert's novel "Robin Hood" (1912) is a good version too. (Though there's a lot of confusion over early-C20 versions - many editions of Paul Creswick's novel have Gilbert's name on them, so beware.) Then there's Roger Lancelyn Green's 1956 "Adventures of Robin Hood". Last Edited By: 1981Marcus 02/25/08 09:08:36. Edited 1 times.
Bob		#5	[-]
Posts: 86 (02/25/08 10:57:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Marcus & Kid; Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert is my favorite book and to make sure it is by him see if it is Robin Hood and the Men of the Greenwood. I first read it almost 60 yrs. ago and I think almost every other author as I have 118 books on RH. Cheers Bob
Grammar Hammer		#6	[-]
Posts: 81 (02/25/08 13:12:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The two things that got me "into" Robin Hood were definitely the Richard Greene television series and the Howard Pyle book. I may have to hunt down a copy of Pyle, as I read a library copy and never owned one. After those two influences, I found myself glomming onto any and all versions of the Robin Hood story I could get hold of. "I'd like to be a pessimist, but this is a luxury I cannot afford." Mother Hubbard Queen of the Grammar Hammers
AAWF		#7	[-]
Posts: 2 (02/26/08 05:11:06) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hello, Kidnap Kid, "Locksley" by Nicholas Chase may be worth a try. I read it some years ago, and didn't like it that much, but now, after I've read a few other Robin Hood novels, I think "Locksley" wasn't bad after all. There's no magic, no supernatural powers, no beasts or dragons (or vampires), and it's not a romance - it's a historical action and adventure novel. Anna www.robinhood-tv.co.uk
WoodsyLadyM		#8	[-]
Posts: 131 (02/27/08 07:50:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Besides Howard Pyle's rendition, some of my favorites are Roger Lancelyn Green's version which has already been mentioned, Robin McKinley's Outlaws of Sherwood, and Theresa Tomlinson's Forestwife Trilogy. The latter I think is much better than Watson's Maid Marian. In fact most young adult novels and children's books are better than the adult fare. I've read Stephen Lawhead's Hood and it was ok but I couldn't finish reading his Scarlet. I'm not sure what it is about his writing that I dislike but I just got bored with it. There's supposed to be a third one to round out the trilogy called Tuck. Maybe that's the problem with some of the current fantasy authors is that they're forced to write in trilogies.
1981Marcus		#9	[-]
Posts: 206 (02/29/08 08:06:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well, as long as he sticks to a trilogy this time. The extra books ruined the Pendragon Cycle. (Not that his Robin Hood books are in the same league as the first three Pendragon novels, obviously. Or maybe this is just a case of rose-tinted glasses; it's been a long time since I read the Pendragon books.)
WoodsyLadyM		#10	[-]
Posts: 132 (02/29/08 10:26:48) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	And then there are some sequels I'd love to see, like one for Outlaws of Sherwood, but the chances of that are probably slim to none.
lady archer		#11	[-]
Posts: 301 (02/29/08 18:57:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I've been wanting to read Theresa Tomlinson's Forestwife Trilogy for a while now, but I think it's out of print. Also, I'd like to find Jennifer Robertson's romance novels on Robin Hood.
presterjohn1		#12	[-]
Posts: 288 (03/01/08 12:42:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have to say I remember enjoying Outlaws of Sherwood when I read it first about twenty years ago, but I picked it up not long ago and read some passages and was shocked how stilted some of it sounded. The dialogue was a little bit painful to read. I am thinking of re-reading Parke Godwin's Sherwood & Robin And The King, which had a lot going for them but could have been combined into a single volume. I agree that sometimes these things spin out of control when they are expanded to additional books. Locksley was not that bad in my opinion. My own favourite Robin Hood books are the ones by Pyle, Gilbert and McSpadden. Clayton Emery's novel Tales Of Robin Hood AKA Beasts Of Sherwood has its moments but is not an overall favourite, but I love his short story "Robin Hood's Treasure". One of the best original RH stories I've read. Very witty.
WoodsyLadyM		#13	[-]
Posts: 133 (03/01/08 14:09:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Lady Archer, The Forestwife Trilogy is available through Amazon but you have to click on "used and new." Most of them are new and you'll have to pay about $3-4 postage. Just pick a dealer with a high rating and you'll be fine. The first one on the list is Book Depository and I've always had good service from them. Roberson's Lady of the Forest and Lady of Sherwood are also available directly from Amazon. Looks like they have bodice ripper covers which is really misleading because they aren't that graphic. ;-)
presterjohn1		#14	[-]
Posts: 289 (03/02/08 08:59:10) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I can't really recommend Roberson's work at all which I found derivative, slow and ponderous, full of subplots and secondary characters that go nowhere, which was too bad because she had some genuinely interesting ideas (concentrating on the female characters) she could have developed into something really worthwhile.
lady archer		#15	[-]
Posts: 302 (03/02/08 14:38:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	WoodsyLadyM wrote: Roberson's Lady of the Forest and Lady of Sherwood are also available directly from Amazon. Looks like they have bodice ripper covers which is really misleading because they aren't that graphic. ;-) That's a shame - the only reason I really read romance novels are for the graphic bits... Thank you for the heads-up on Amazon, Maria - I will check Powell's first and some other used book stores in the area, and if I don't have any luck, I will buy off Amazon.
1981Marcus		#16	[-]
Posts: 208 (03/03/08 03:28:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Incidentally, Pyle, Gilbert, Creswick and McSpadden are all available as free etexts.
lady archer		#17	[-]
Posts: 303 (03/03/08 23:21:13) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Where, Marcus?
WoodsyLadyM		#18	[-]
Posts: 134 (03/04/08 06:35:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pyle - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/964 Gilbert - http://www.kellscraft.com/Robinhood/robinhoodcontent.html Creswick - http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/rh/index.htm McSpadden - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/832 There may be other and better sources for these but this is what I found from a quick search on the Internet. Enjoy!
lady archer		#19	[-]
Posts: 305 (03/13/08 21:14:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Maria, you are a lovely, lovely lady. Thank you for posting those links! squee!
lady archer		#20	[-]
Posts: 307 (03/15/08 15:24:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Has anyone had a chance to read Clayton Emery's The Beast of Sherwood: Tales of Robin Hood?

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