Robin Hood
Author: Tilman Röhrig
Publisher: Arctis U.S.
An action-filled retelling of the story of Robin Hood as seen through the eyes of his trusted strong right hand, Little John. When peasant John Little witnesses the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men destroying his village for John’s crime of poaching deer to feed his people, he flees into the tangle of Sherwood Forest with the only other survivor, his young foster daughter Marian. But dangers lurk there, too: the outlaw Robin Hood soon catches them and takes them prisoner. Robin Hood does not quite match the heroic stories that are already told about him. For all Robin’s dazzling bravado and clever tricks, the reality of his fight against oppression by the Norman nobility is a rough and dirty life in the forest, outlawed and constantly hunted. As the newly dubbed Little John gets an education in how to fit into Robin’s dangerous band, Marian, too, grows into a force to be reckoned with. Thrust into life in a world of fearless bandits, uncertain allies, and merciless vendettas, Little John and maid Marian earn their place—and build an unshakable friendship with Robin Hood. Told with earthy historical detail and unforgettable characters, this is a must for any young reader fascinated by knights and fights, kings and peasants, or who wants to delve into the many tales that built the Robin Hood legend.
This medieval romp is a sort-of Robin Hood prequel, giving readers a glimpse of Little John’s and Maid Marian’s lives from well before they joined up with Robin Hood’s merry gang of outlaws. It is full of action and characters to which one becomes quite attached. It offers much historical perspective without ever being dry: Saxons versus Normans, the Crusades, King Richard and his evil, usurping brother. It’s particularly good at offering a closeup perspective of life in the 1100s – for peasants, abbots, barons, soldiers, and outlaws.
There are sieges, lieges, gallows, lances, catapults, squires, stallions, kings’ trumpeters, crossbowmen, archers, blacksmiths, healers, pheasant pie, silver goblets, shield bearers, even a cave in which a wardrobe of disguises are hidden. There’s even a falconer whose falcon “Snow Wing” wears a gemstone-encrusted hood. There are real places: Nottingham, Doncaster and the like. Many scenes depict Robin Hood and gang sending bad guys off in their undergarments after stealing all else they have. There are also interesting glimpses into how Jews were regarded at the time (necessary but untouchable). After all, Robin Hood is a legend told and retold since before the 1500s.
This is not for the faint of heart, as there is plenty of violence, and no whitewashing of this gang of thieves, even if they did have a cause and stayed upside of being total ruffians.
For a novel marketed as young adult, it’s interesting that the main character (Little John, who is Robin Hood’s righthand man) is an adult. Occasionally, however, we are treated to Marian’s point of view. She begins the novel as a child, and grows into a strong-minded, beautiful lady who can ride a horse and throw a spear as well as she can play a lute and wear a noblewoman’s gown.
It’s a longwinded book, at 412 pages, and unfortunately, after the incredibly exciting climax (a battle to take back a castle), it devolves briefly into a cheap introduction of a “new” Robin Hood: a young archer who wanders into the circle of aging outlaws, almost instantly wins their approval (and makes Maid Marian go starstruck) and is deemed by them ready to carry on the battle and legend.
Still, readers who love to sink themselves into Medieval times, and certainly all Robin Hood fans, will enjoy this lively tale.
-P.W.