book report robin hood

• The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Summary

by Howard Pyle

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Christopher Dalton, Nick Patt, sercan incidis, Eray Başak, Robin Hood, Syifa Meli, Frida Reyes, Garuna Srimuangmaen, Ian Maykut, Belma Duric, Ayette Lasaca, Inia Sheldon and other people who wish to remain anonymous

The story begins with Robin Hood , who is on his way to an archery contest, but accidentally kills one of the sheriff's officers. This causes Robin to live a life of being an outlaw. The Sheriff vows to catch Robin Hood for his crimes and in each of the three stories he tries to.

In the first story, he sent a Tinker to serve papers to Robin; however, Robin gives the Tinker a strong drink that makes him sleepy and steals the papers.

In the second story, the Sheriff holds an archery match in Nottingham, hoping to lure Robin. However, Robin comes in disguise, wins the first prize, and leaves the Sheriff a note. Later, the Sheriff captures Will Stutely and announces that he will be hanged for his crimes. However, Little John (another outlaw) postpones the execution just so Robin and his men could save Will.

Robin returns to Nottingham with a disguise, and a meat cart, and sets up both next to the Guild Hall, where he was invited to a feast by the Sheriff. Robin then sells the Sheriff a deer instead of the cattle, which is what he thought was going to eat.

In the third story, the King steps up and hires a thief, Guy of Guisbourne, to kill Robin Hood. However, Robin Hood wins the confrontation, but later gets a fever. Robin hides in his cousin, Prioress of the Nunnery of Kirklees, home for treatment. However, his cousin betrays and kills Robin.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Robin Hood becomes a folk-hero and people are attracted to his form of vigilante justice.

What trap did the sheriff lay to catch Robin hood?

In the traditional legends and stories about Robin Hood, there is no mention of a trap set by the sheriff specifically to catch Robin Hood. However, the sheriff of Nottingham is often depicted as Robin Hood's main antagonist, constantly trying to...

name the archers who competed with robin

Queen Eleanor asks Robin Hood and a few of his men to the archery competition in London. Robin brings Little John, Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale with him.

Study Guide for The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood study guide contains a biography of Howard Pyle, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
• Character List

Essays for The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle.

• The Role of Maid Marian in Robin Hood
• Ideal Actions and Outcomes
• Sides of a Coin: Sir Gawain and Robin Hood as Heroic Foils

E-Text of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood e-text contains the full text of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle.

• How Robin Hood Came to be an Outlaw
• Robin Hood and the Tinker
• The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town
• Will Stutely Rescued by his Companions

Wikipedia Entries for The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

• Introduction
• Development and significance
• Invented Middle English dialect

Stray Thoughts

A home for the stray thoughts of an ordinary christian woman.

Book Review: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Legends of Robin Hood have been floating around since the 14th century. Scholars debate whether early ballads and stories were based on a real person. In his earliest versions, Robin was just a crook, sometimes short-tempered, according to Wikipedia . He did not rob from the poor, but he didn’t give to them, either. Some of the aspects we know of Robin survived from the earliest stories; others were added or adapted over the years. Wikipedia details Robin’s history and variations.

In this story, Robin is a yeoman, which seems to be a type of middle class between peasants and aristocrats (other versions cast Robin as a nobleman). He first becomes an outlaw by shooting an arrow at someone who shot at him first, subsequently killing the man. This man happened to be related to the Sheriff of Nottingham, who thenceforth became Robin’s enemy.

As Robin hid out in Sherwood Forest, others soon came to join him. Some who were poor and hungry had killed the king’s deer and fled the law. Others had goods and land confiscated by the king and had nowhere else to go.

To support themselves, Robin and his “merry men” stopped rich travelers and “invited” them to feast in Sherwood Forest, then demanded payment of them. In some cases, Robin divided up the money gathered in this way into thirds, keeping a third for his men, a third for charity, and giving a third back. Robin justified this theft because he figured those he robbed had either gotten their gain unfairly or, like wealthy clergymen, were keeping for themselves what they should be giving to others.

The poor loved Robin because he helped many of them. The classes that Robin robbed from, obviously, did not.

This book details many of the well-known stories about Robin—his first bout with Little John, his altercation of Friar Tuck (someone not in the earliest legends), the archery match in Nottingham where Robin went in disguise. Maid Marian in mentioned but never appears. Other stories I had not heard of were included as well, like how Robin met and helped Allen-a-dale to free his beloved from an arranged marriage, Robin’s deadly run-in with villain Guy of Gisborne, the recruitment of Midge, the Miller’s Son, and other tales.

The book came to a very satisfying end, until it got to the epilogue, where Robin’s death by betrayal is told.

There is an odd mention of “Cain’s wife had never opened the pottle that held misfortunes and let them forth like a cloud of flies to pester us.” That sounds like a convoluted version of Pandora’s box. And I chuckled at his phrase because a former pastor used to say it, and I didn’t know it came from this book: “There is many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip,” meaning plans don’t always work out like we hoped. Maybe it was a common saying that Pyle incorporated.

As I first started listening to the audiobook, I wished I had known of and read this book to my boys. The more I heard, though, the more I wrestled with whether that would have been a good idea or not. There’s something appealing about this version of Robin, “honest … in his own way”: someone who stands up for the little guy, who “never harmed harmless man,”  rights wrongs, bests the foolish and evil. But I could never condone vigilantism, for many reasons. And many differences in the book are solved by fighting. Plus there are copious amounts ale, beer, and the like consumed. If we had read the book as a family, we would have had to stop and discuss a lot of issues along the way. Setting aside those objections, though, the rest was fun.

There are many film version of Robin, but the only one I ever saw was the animated Disney one. I’ve seen the character in some shows like Once Upon a Time and Shrek .

I listened to the audiobook superbly read by Christopher Cazenove in a voice and accent perfect for this type of tale. Project Gutenberg has a version online here .

I read/listened to this book for the Back to the Classics challenge, but I am not sure which category to place it in yet. It would fit in two or three. I’ll wait til I read some others and then see where to place this one.

Have you ever read this version of Robin Hood? What did you think?

(Sharing with Carole’s Books You Loved , Booknificent )

Share this:

6 thoughts on “ book review: the merry adventures of robin hood ”.

Pingback: January Reflections | Stray Thoughts

I’ve watched several movie versions of Robin Hood but I’ve never read any.

I’ve watched a couple movie versions that were ok. I did read the book when i was 12 or 13 but i can’t remember which version!! My youngest daughter has the Barnes and Noble classics book version.

how cool, I just wrote an article on Howard Pyle

ALONG PYLE ROAD Part II

Thank you! I didn’t know he was an artist as well as a writer. I wish I had looked up a physical copy of the book–it probably would have been illustrated by him.

I know I’ve read some abridged versions of Robin Hood, but I was young and don’t remember now which versions they were. I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while now. Nice review of it!

(Found your review via Lark’s Backlist Reader Challenge.)

Comments are closed.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

The Adventures of Robin Hood

49 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 6

Chapters 7-12

Chapters 13-18

Chapter 19-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a retelling of extant medieval ballads and poems, as well as later stories and plays about the many adventures of the mythical English folk hero Robin Hood and his band of merry men. Written by Roger Lancelyn Green, the book is a purposefully collated collection of stories crafted into an episodic narrative and was originally published in 1956 by Penguin Publishing Group. A British biographer, children’s writer, and professional actor, Green was also a member of the Oxford literary group, the Inklings, from the late 1930s until 1949, a group that included members such as C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. His interest in myths, tales, and folklore influenced much of his writing, especially his works for children and retellings of, for example, the legend of King Arthur in his King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table or common Norse myths ( The Saga of Asgard , or The Myths of Norsemen ) and Egyptian myths ( Tales of Ancient Egypt ). Much like his contemporaries, Green took an interest in the fantasy genre and published original fiction, such as The Luck of Troy and The Land of the Lord High Tiger . His work in retellings, however, aims to make older texts accessible to newer generations while also preserving the stories therein. Many of the themes and plot developments in his retellings, therefore, follow the same ones found in the original texts, such as bravery, honor, identity, and faith.

This study guide refers to The Adventures of Robin Hood Puffin Classics, Penguin UK e-book edition published on February 4, 2010.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,900+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,800+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Content Warning : As a retelling of amalgamated medieval ballads and later stories, the book contains terminology and perspectives that may be offensive. Specifically, as some of the tales discuss King Richard’s participation in the Crusades of the 12th century, the narrative at times uses derogatory language in relation to Saracens, a term that, until the 16th century, referred to the Muslim peoples of the Arabian Peninsula. The narrative also uses outdated and offensive terms for people with disabilities. All terms are replicated in this guide only in direct quotes from the source material.

Plot Summary

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 175 + new titles every month

A hundred years after the battle of Hastings, a young William Fitzooth secretly marries Joanna Gamwell, and she, in turn, gives birth to a son named Robert in the middle of Sherwood Forest. The boy, nicknamed Robin by his grandfather, grows to be an honorable man, and as the Earl of Huntingdon, he is beloved by his people in Locksley. Little does Robert suspect, however, that his steward Worman aims to betray him to the money-hungry Prince John and his underlings, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisborne, who want Robert’s lands and money as their own. Just as Robert is about to finalize his wedding vows with Lady Marian Fitzwalter, the procession is halted, and Robert is outlawed by order of the Prince on account of his hunting the King’s deer and breaking the Forest Laws under an assumed identity, Robin Hood. Ousted from his lands and vowing to wage war against all who, like Prince John and his followers, seek to extort the poor and vulnerable, Robert shirks his name and fully becomes Robin Hood. When he has safely escaped to Sherwood Forest with a handful of men, they all vow to follow him in outlawry and to provide aid to honest people while divesting the evil wealthy from their extorted spoils. In turn, Robin promises his men that he will seek a full pardon from King Richard, the rightful king and Prince John’s brother, when he returns from the crusade.

Thus commence Robin’s adventures with his growing band of outlaws. Followed by Will Scarlet, his second-in-command, and his former attendants, Robin encounters numerous individuals, such as Little John and Friar Tuck, and entices them to join him in Sherwood Forest after he proves his strength and valor to them. Over his years in Sherwood Forest, Robin creates a network of allies whose trust he has earned by extending to them a helping hand. He counts among them the likes of Sir Richard of Legh, a downtrodden knight extorted by the Abbot of St. Mary’s and who was then captured for his association with Robin; Allin-a-Dale, a minstrel whose love was stolen by the Bishop of Peterborough; Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, King Richard’s close friend who was taken prisoner in Torquilstone Castle; and George-a-Greene, the Pinner of Wakefield, who was caught in the crossfires between Robin and Sir Guy of Gisborne.

Robin never forgets his promise to Prince John, and while King Richard is still imprisoned during the crusade, he persistently defies and encumbers the Prince and his allies, whether by tricking the Sheriff of Nottingham out of his money by disguising himself as a butcher or by participating in Prince John’s two public archery contests in disguise and winning each time. Over and over, Prince John enlists the help of the Sheriff and Sir Guy of Gisborne to trap Robin, but with his wit and cunning, Robin always succeeds in escaping their schemes and living to see another day. After years of chasing him, however, Prince John devises a plan to have Robin killed by Sir Guy of Gisborne and take Marian for himself. Maid Marian , however, can amply defend herself, and while the fight rages on for both Robin and Marian, King Richard returns, and the battle ends, with Sir Guy of Gisborne dead and Prince John captured and disgraced. King Richard restores Robin to his full title in Locksley and presides over Robin’s marriage to Marian.

After five years of peace, King Richard is once again at war on the continent, and though Little John warns Robin of the rumors that Richard has died there, Robin remains unworried. His complacency leads him into a trap laid by the newly made King John, who has never forgotten his desire for revenge against Robin. He seals him in a tower, but with Little John’s help, Robin finds a way to escape—only to fall 20 feet and seriously wound himself. He nevertheless successfully runs away, brings Marian to a nunnery for safety, and evades capture by working on a fishing boat for a while. Upon his return, however, his wound is made worse, and when he visits the nunnery to find Marian again, the prioress leaves him to die while in her care. Marian finds him in his last moments, and with Little John’s help, Robin shoots his last arrow and dies in their arms. Little John finds the arrow in the greenwood the next day, and they bury Robin under the trees of his beloved forest. Years later, when King John is dead and his son, King Henry III, is lost in the forest, he finds Little John and Friar Tuck and spends the night with them, remembering the legend and stories of Robin Hood.

Related Titles

By Roger Lancelyn Green

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

Featured Collections

Action & Adventure

View Collection

Books on Justice & Injustice

Challenging Authority

Library of Congress

• Ask a Librarian
• Digital Collections
• Library Catalogs

“Robin Hood”

Read this book now

Recounts the life and adventures of Robin Hood, who, with his band of followers, lived in Sherwood Forest as an outlaw dedicated to fighting tyranny.

• Author:  Creswick, Paul, 1866-1947
• LCCN:  http://lccn.loc.gov/59000355
• Published/Created:  New York, Scribner [1957]
• Request in:  Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE
• Download Cover Image:  [ JPG 994K ]

Connect with the Library

All ways to connect

Subscribe & Comment

• RSS & E-Mail

Download & Play

• iTunesU (external link)

About | Press | Jobs | Donate Inspector General | Legal | Accessibility | External Link Disclaimer | USA.gov

• Project Gutenberg
• 73,877 free eBooks
• 35 by Howard Pyle

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Read now or download (free!)

Similar Books

About this ebook.

• Privacy policy
• About Project Gutenberg
• Terms of Use
• Contact Information

The Adventures of Robin Hood Literature Unit & Lapbook

Hello! Today I’m releasing The Adventures of Robin Hood Literature Unit Study and Lapbook! This is a great book for young readers as not only is it an all time classic, but it includes a lot of adventure and excitement!

Hope you enjoy!

Story Summary:

As a young boy Robin Hood was an excellent archer. After shooting one of the sheriff’s men, Robin heads into Sherwood forest to live as an outlaw. Follow Robin and his merry men as they set out on an adventure to take from the rich, help the poor, and fight for justice!

This accompanying unit study is meant to be used with the Classic Starts The Adventures of Robin Hood version as retold from the Howard Pyle original. The Classic Start versions are find them a little easier for younger readers, but you could certainly use this unit study with the original version if you have an older student. The lapbook chapters will correlate with the Classic Starts edition, but the concepts are the same, so you should be able to complete the units using any version you choose.

Watch my Robin Hood Lapbook Video to see more information:

What ages are these units for?

I normally recommend my literature units for elementary level readers grades 1-5. You can assign them out individually to your student so they read on their own, then complete the mini-book assignment for each chapter. There are writing assignments for each chapter as your students answer comprehension questions from the reading. So you’ll just want to make sure they’re comfortable writing. Or you can read it together as a group if you have younger readers, then have them complete the mini-book assignments when you’re done with each chapter.

How long does the literature unit take?

That really depends on your child’s reading speed, and how many chapters there are in the book! And how fast your child reads through the chapters as well. Each one varies in length, and you can easily modify these units to fit your schedule. So for example, you can assign one chapter per day plus the associated mini-book assignments, or you can have them do 2-3/week. It’s totally up to you, your schedule, and your student.

What’s included in the Unit Study?

Each unit includes everything you need to complete the unit study and lapbook with the exception of the book itself and the file folders. The download includes a teacher’s manual with the daily reading assignments, along with the comprehension questions and answers for each chapter. This makes it much easier for you to help your students even if you haven’t read the book yourself! There is also one mini-book for each chapter in the book. Inside your student will answer a comprehension question that relates directly to the chapter they’ve just read. Some assignments include vocabulary words, mapping the voyage, and completing the mini-reports.

For older students:

This unit includes 5 reports that your students can complete. If you have older readers, have them do these reports to make the unit a bit more challenging. If you have younger readers, you might prefer to ask the questions verbally so they aren’t having to write a report.

The reports include:

• Story Facts (Setting, Main Plot, Main Characters)
• Protagonist vs. Antagonist
• Prediction Sheet
• My Book Report
• Book vs. Movie
• Storyboard timeline

As you read through the book, each chapter has a mini-book with comprehension questions for your student to complete.

This unit has 16 mini-books plus a vocabulary mini-book full of terms to learn throughout the story.

Then on the backside of the lapbook, I added a pocket to the backside where you can store the reports and story timeline.

Get your copy today and start learning with classic literature! 

Looking for more unit studies? Check out these links!

• My Literature Lapbooks
• My Science & Inventor Lapbooks
• Famous Artists Lapbook & Unit Study
• Famous Composers Lapbook & Unit Study

For more lapbook tutorials:

• Tri-Fold Lapbook Tutorial
• How To Lapbook Tutorials

Of course you know I love to give back to my readers, so I’m offering 1 of these units free for one of you! Enter below!

Can you remind what to do when we have the unit on our computer and some of the pages are the black lines? Does that make sense? I remember it being discussed on another page but can’t remember the solution.

Hi! I am going to be teaching a literature class to 5th graders at our homeschool co-op. Are you ok with me using this for that purpose?

Is there a movie, other than the Disney animated one, that is appropriate to watch? That is the only Robin Hood movie I can think of that would be family friendly. Thanks!

Hi Christa, I’m not sure, since Robin Hood adult movies can be kind of well, adult, I stuck to the animated one as well…

I really enjoyed the 1938 Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Olivia De’Haviland, but it would, of course, depend on the age(s) of the child(ren) and preferences of the parents. Lizzie

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Robins of the Hood: Robin Hood Retellings and Histories

Kristen McQuinn

Kristen McQuinn is a medievalist who dreams of reading more, writing more, and traveling more while being the best single mama by choice she possibly can be. By day, she can be found working with English teachers at the University of Phoenix, where she also teaches the occasional class on mythology, Shakespeare, or Brit lit. Sometimes she updates even her own blog. Follow her on Twitter: @KristenMcQuinn  or www.hergraceslibrary.com .  Twitter: @KristenMcQuinn

View All posts by Kristen McQuinn

Robin Hood is another one of those legends (along with Arthurian legend ) that grabbed my attention from a young age. I’ve always been an Anglophile, so I was bound to be intrigued by it, but I think it goes deeper than that. There is just something about the idea of living in a huge, ancient, deciduous forest like Sherwood that makes me happy. I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of living in a treehouse at one point or another? When I was in England for school, I tried to go to Sherwood but I never really made it. I saw a bit of it as I was driving to Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, but whizzing past it on the highway was as close as I got.  It just seems free and beautiful. I don’t get to see a lot of real trees at home. I get thorny bush-like ugly things that have the nerve to call themselves trees. It’s a good thing I’m not bitter about it…

I also love the social justice elements of Robin Hood—robbing from the rich and giving to the poor always made me giggle with delight. As an adult, there are more subtle nuances to it I appreciate. I’m guessing that Trump, if he could read , wouldn’t be a fan of Robin Hood.  Presidents aside, the basic issues remain relevant today. I’m not sure if it’s incredibly sad that we are still fighting poverty, inequality, race, and a plethora of other social issues today, or if it merely highlights the ways in which literature showcases universal themes of humanity. We’ll go with that. It’s less depressing.

The earliest recorded mention of Robin Hood was in 1226 in the York Assizes, a criminal court document. This particular document recorded, “Idem vicecomes debet xxxij. s. et. vj. d. de catallis Roberti Hod fugitivi,” or, “Also, the fugitive Robert Hod owes the sheriff 32 shillings and 6 pence.” You can see a facsimile of the York Assizes here , reprinted from the 1226 manuscripts, which was published in 1927.  This is Robert Hod, a form of Robin Hood, and it’s clear he was a criminal of some sort though whether he was robbing from the rich and giving to the poor is really open to debate. The name Robert Hod (also Robin Hood, Rabunhod, Robehode, and many other variants) was a common name and alias, similar to John Doe today. It is possible that many of the recorded accounts, such as the York Assizes, were false names, especially since they were given in criminal accounts. Additionally, Robert was a super common name in the Middle Ages, and its diminutive form is Robin, and Hood was not an uncommon surname, referring either to a person who made hoods or who wore one. So…not helpful.

Another possible genesis for the Robin Hood legend, which most scholars today have since determined to be false but fun anyway, is that he and his men were followers of Simon de Montfort. Simon de Montfort was the 6th Earl of Leicester and, for a time, the de facto ruler of England after he led the Second Barons’ War in 1263 against Henry III. One of de Montfort’s greatest accomplishments was to introduce non-noble citizens into Parliament. Because of this, he is sometimes considered to be one of the founders of modern democracy. When he was killed at the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265, his men—those who managed to escape absolute slaughter on the battlefield—scattered and lived as outlaws, often harassing the king’s men. Sound familiar? The main difference is that the time was after King John, the traditional period of Robin Hood. Simon de Montfort and his men fought and died during the reign of Henry III, the son of King John, so it was only a tad off. Personally, I think it is entirely possible that the time frame of the Robin Hood legend was deliberately shifted to the reign of King John because John quite simply made for a better villain. He was well known for his horrible personality and temperament, a reign fraught with turmoil and conflict, numerous affairs with noblewomen, and questions of his religious devotion, personality traits which were considered to be deficiencies at the time. By contrast, Henry III, who also had a tumultuous reign, was supposedly a fairly genial man, very religiously devout, at least to all outward appearances, and was easily influenced by his advisors, most of whom were his close friends. In short, he was boring. As a writer, I would have preferred to use John instead, too.

The most reasonable explanation for Robin Hood is that he is a figure solely from mythology and folklore. There is support for this idea because he exists in ballads, which so often draw on myth and lore as their primary sources, as well as the collective imagination of the oral tradition of a culture. Additionally, elements within the ballads and poems, such as the color green Robin Hood typically wore, are linked to other mythic figures such as Robin Goodfellowe. The earliest known Robin Hood Ballad is “ Robin Hood and the Monk ,” written around 1450. 

However, William Langland mentioned Robin Hood in a very brief passage in his work Piers Plowman in 1377. This brief mention may indicate that the legend was at least somewhat common in the oral tradition, and was working on making its way into the literary tradition. The Langland reference implies that Robin Hood might have been a somewhat popular story:

It was not until much later, however, with the 1883 publication of Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood , that the legend really became popular in literature. As with much of Arthurian literature, the field of Robin Hood studies and popular literature is full of white men, though this is getting a little better, particularly in TV and film media. Below are a few novels by and about the Robin Hood legend that I’ve found interesting over the years. Which others would you recommend?

N.B.: The diversity is seriously lacking in this list. I had a HELL of a time finding any authors of color to include here. If you know of any, PLEASE let me know. But there are some awesome queer and gender bent retellings below, which I am here for all the time.

Quoted summaries are from the publisher summaries provided on Amazon.

Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman

Ok, so it’s not actually a Robin Hood novel. But a) Sharon Kay Penman is one of my favorite authors of all time and b) this novel focuses on Simon de Montfort, who, as you know, may have contributed in some way to the genesis of the Robin Hood legend. “Simon de Montfort was a man ahead of his time in the thirteenth century, a disinherited Frenchman who talked his way into an English earldom and marriage with a sister of the English king, Henry III. A charismatic, obstinate leader, Simon soon lost patience with the king’s incompetence and inability to keep his word, and found himself the champion of the common people.” This book is definitely worth a read, as are all of Penman’s books. She’s an absolute delight.

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

“ When sixteen-year-old Sylvie’s brother takes over management of their family’s vast estates, Sylvie feels powerless to stop his abuse of the local commoners. Her dearest friend asks her to run away to the woods with him, and soon a host of other villagers join them. Together, they form their own community and fight to right the wrongs perpetrated by the king and his noblemen. Perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings or anyone who loves a strong female lead, this gorgeously written take on the Robin Hood tale goes beyond the original’s focus on economic justice to explore love, gender, the healing power of nature, and what it means to be a family.”

Scarlet by AC Gaughen

Will Scarlet’s story. “ Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets. … Scarlet’s biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know … that the boy terrorizing the sheriff’s men is really a girl .”

Maid of Sherwood by Shanti Krishnamurty

“Headstrong Marian du Luc would rather traipse through Sherwood Forest and spar with her family’s antique sword than wear the fancy dresses and ribbons her mother favors. Nevertheless, she conforms to her mother’s standards when her family is summoned to Nottingham Castle by the evil Prince John. Upon her arrival Marian is forced to endure the advances of the Sheriff of Nottingham while she secretly meets with the handsome outlaw ‘Hood,’ who has captured her heart with his passion for justice. Court intrigue tangles Marian in its web when she discovers horrendous truths about Prince John and the Sheriff, placing her life in jeopardy and forcing her to confront the hidden truths in her own family. Of course, everything would be much easier if she wasn’t head over heels with the one man the Sheriff would risk anything to kill…”

Hood by Stephen Lawhead

Robin Hood retold as a medieval Welsh historical fiction. “ Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne of Elfael, has abandoned his fathers kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in a primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him—for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.”

Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky

“Daughter of one of England’s most famous falconers, Matty knows her destiny lies with her father’s magnificent birds even before she begins to hear their thoughts and speak their language. As tragedy strikes close to home and the sinister sheriff of Nottingham rises to power, Matty’s friend Fynn is forced to become Robin Hood and she herself becomes Maid Marian.”

Outlaw by Angus Donald

Alan a Dale’s story, set during the reign of Henry II. “ When he’s caught stealing, young Alan Dale is forced to leave his family and go to live with a notorious band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest. Their leader is the infamous Robin Hood. A tough, bloodthirsty warrior, Robin is more feared than any man in the county. And he becomes a mentor for Alan; with his fellow outlaws, Robin teaches Alan how to fight—and how to win. But Robin is a ruthless man—and although he is Alan’s protector, if Alan displeases him, he could also just as easily become his murderer.”

Morningstar by David Gemmell

This backlist bump is an “ epic fantasy based on the classic Robin Hood legend. Jarek Mace, a thief who preys upon wealthy nobles, is hailed as a hero. But is he a soldier of honor, or just a mercenary?”

The Gallows in the Greenwood by Phyllis Ann Karr

“ Everyone knows the Robin Hood legend, but for this retelling, Phyllis Ann Karr has found a historical precident to create a female Sheriff of Nottingham and suddenly the whole myth explodes, taking on new meanings that resonate deep within contemporary culture.”

Marian by Ella Lyons

Tomboy Marian Banner must turn into a little lady when her father moves them from the countryside to the big city of Nottingham. “ But into Marian’s dull new world comes someone exciting—a girl named Robin Hood who is as courageous and dedicated as she is small. Robin is determined to become a knight, and she won’t let her gender stand in her way. The two girls quickly become inseparable. … When Marian’s father is killed and the king takes an interest in her, she’ll need Robin to prove she’s the hero she always wanted to be.” Lesbian YA retelling of Robin Hood.

“ In the Greenwood ” by Mari Ness

So it’s not a book, but it’s just too good not to include here. I can’t give even a bare summary without potentially spoiling it, so just go read it.

Sovay by Celia Rees

An 18th century retelling. “ In 1794 England, the beautiful Sovay dons a man’s cloak and holds up stagecoaches in broad daylight. Posing as a highway robber began as a lark to test a suitor’s devotion. But when she lifts the wallet of one of England’s most dangerous men, Sovay begins to unravel a web of deceit and duplicity.”

Greenwode by J Tullos Hennig

Pagan, gay fantasy reimagining. “ When an old druid foresees [a] harbinger of chaos, he also glimpses its future. A peasant from Loxley will wear the Hood and, with his sister, command a last, desperate bastion of Old Religion against New. Yet a devout nobleman’s son could well be their destruction—Gamelyn Boundys, whom Rob and Marion have befriended. Such acquaintance challenges both duty and destiny. The old druid warns that Rob and Gamelyn will be cast as sworn enemies, locked in timeless and symbolic struggle for the greenwode’s Maiden. Instead, a defiant Rob dares his Horned God to reinterpret the ancient rites, allow Rob to take Gamelyn as lover instead of rival.”

The Scarlet Forest: A Tale of Robin Hood by AE Chandler

“You are invited underneath the great greenwood tree to hear how a young man became a hero, and a hero became a legend. When Robin takes a shortcut through Sherwood Forest, the path he chooses leads not to Nottingham’s archery contest, but to a life on the run from the law. Unable now to become a knight, and joined by his childhood friends, Robin Hood leads the most infamous outlaw band ever to evade the king and his sheriff. … The forest is waiting.”

The Hooded Man by Courtney Sheets

“When her father is brutally murdered in front of her eyes, Marian of Locksley is thrust into a world of treason and greed, where the ultimate prize is the throne of England. Left with little choice, she disguises herself as Robin of the Hood, an outlaw despised by royalty and loved by the people…and the wickedly handsome, steadfast Will Scarlet.”

You Might Also Like

Book Report lyrics - You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

• You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
• My Blanket and Me
• Doctor Is In
• Beethoven Day

Book Report

• My New Philosophy
• T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)
• Glee Club Rehersal
• Little Known Facts

Book Report lyrics

• Les Miserables
• Merrily We Roll Along
• Phantom of the Opera, The
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

• Get a Free Review of Your Book
• Enter our Book Award Contest
• Helpful Articles and Writing Services
• Are you a Publisher, Agent or Publicist?
• Five Star and Award Stickers
• Find a Great Book to Read
• Win 100+ Kindle Books

Get Free Books

• Are you a School, Library or Charity?

Become a Reviewer

• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Partner

Award Winners

Non-fiction, book reviews.

• 2023 Award Winners
• 2022 Award Winners
• 2021 Award Winners
• 2020 Award Winners
• 2019 Award Winners
• 2018 Award Winners
• 2017 Award Winners
• 2016 Award Winners
• 2015 Award Winners
• 2014 Award Winners
• 2013 Award Winners
• 2012 Award Winners
• 2011 Award Winners
• 2010 Award Winners
• 2009 Award Winners
• Children - Action
• Children - Adventure
• Children - Animals
• Children - Audiobook
• Children - Christian
• Children - Coming of Age
• Children - Concept
• Children - Educational
• Children - Fable
• Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
• Children - General
• Children - Grade 4th-6th
• Children - Grade K-3rd
• Children - Mystery
• Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
• Children - Non-Fiction
• Children - Picture Book
• Children - Preschool
• Children - Preteen
• Children - Religious Theme
• Children - Social Issues

Young Adult

• Young Adult - Action
• Young Adult - Adventure
• Young Adult - Coming of Age
• Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
• Young Adult - Fantasy - General
• Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
• Young Adult - General
• Young Adult - Horror
• Young Adult - Mystery
• Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
• Young Adult - Non-Fiction
• Young Adult - Paranormal
• Young Adult - Religious Theme
• Young Adult - Romance
• Young Adult - Sci-Fi
• Young Adult - Social Issues
• Young Adult - Thriller
• Christian - Amish
• Christian - Biblical Counseling
• Christian - Devotion/Study
• Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
• Christian - Fiction
• Christian - General
• Christian - Historical Fiction
• Christian - Living
• Christian - Non-Fiction
• Christian - Romance - Contemporary
• Christian - Romance - General
• Christian - Romance - Historical
• Christian - Thriller
• Fiction - Action
• Fiction - Adventure
• Fiction - Animals
• Fiction - Anthology
• Fiction - Audiobook
• Fiction - Chick Lit
• Fiction - Crime
• Fiction - Cultural
• Fiction - Drama
• Fiction - Dystopia
• Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
• Fiction - Fantasy - General
• Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
• Fiction - General
• Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
• Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
• Fiction - Historical - Personage
• Fiction - Holiday
• Fiction - Horror
• Fiction - Humor/Comedy
• Fiction - Inspirational
• Fiction - Intrigue
• Fiction - LGBTQ
• Fiction - Literary
• Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
• Fiction - Military
• Fiction - Mystery - General
• Fiction - Mystery - Historical
• Fiction - Mystery - Legal
• Fiction - Mystery - Murder
• Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
• Fiction - Mythology
• Fiction - New Adult
• Fiction - Paranormal
• Fiction - Realistic
• Fiction - Religious Theme
• Fiction - Science Fiction
• Fiction - Short Story/Novela
• Fiction - Social Issues
• Fiction - Southern
• Fiction - Sports
• Fiction - Supernatural
• Fiction - Suspense
• Fiction - Tall Tale
• Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
• Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
• Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
• Fiction - Thriller - General
• Fiction - Thriller - Legal
• Fiction - Thriller - Medical
• Fiction - Thriller - Political
• Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
• Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
• Fiction - Time Travel
• Fiction - Urban
• Fiction - Visionary
• Fiction - Western
• Fiction - Womens
• Non-Fiction - Adventure
• Non-Fiction - Animals
• Non-Fiction - Anthology
• Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
• Non-Fiction - Audiobook
• Non-Fiction - Autobiography
• Non-Fiction - Biography
• Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
• Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
• Non-Fiction - Cultural
• Non-Fiction - Drama
• Non-Fiction - Education
• Non-Fiction - Environment
• Non-Fiction - Genealogy
• Non-Fiction - General
• Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
• Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
• Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
• Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
• Non-Fiction - Historical
• Non-Fiction - Hobby
• Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
• Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
• Non-Fiction - Inspirational
• Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
• Non-Fiction - Marketing
• Non-Fiction - Memoir
• Non-Fiction - Military
• Non-Fiction - Motivational
• Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
• Non-Fiction - New Age
• Non-Fiction - Occupational
• Non-Fiction - Parenting
• Non-Fiction - Relationships
• Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
• Non-Fiction - Retirement
• Non-Fiction - Self Help
• Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
• Non-Fiction - Social Issues
• Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
• Non-Fiction - Sports
• Non-Fiction - Travel
• Non-Fiction - True Crime
• Non-Fiction - Womens
• Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
• Romance - Comedy
• Romance - Contemporary
• Romance - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
• Romance - General
• Romance - Historical
• Romance - Paranormal
• Romance - Sizzle
• Romance - Suspense
• Poetry - General
• Poetry - Inspirational
• Poetry - Love/Romance

Our Featured Books

You Cannot Forbid the Flower

Facing North, Headed South

Road to Eden

Lupita's Treasure

The Library of the Answers

Brady Goes to the Vet

Defense Medical Exams Made Easy

Spirit Guides on Speed Dial

100 Walls To Be Broken

Marvin's Little Mermaid

The Golldooney’s Garden

The Fight for Equity in the Bronx

All Money Ain't Good Money

Of Friction

The Snow Games

Scaring the Stars into Submission

The Legendary Mo Seto

Kindle book giveaway.

Click here to learn about the free offer(s) from this author.

Author Biography

• Children's Books

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Adventures of Robin Hood: Complete and Unabridged Paperback – December 4, 1984

• Print length 256 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Puffin
• Publication date December 4, 1984
• Dimensions 20 x 20 x 20 inches
• ISBN-10 0140350349
• ISBN-13 978-0140350340
• Lexile measure 1110L
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin (December 4, 1984)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140350349
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140350340
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1110L
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 20 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20 x 20 x 20 inches
• #1,510,482 in Children's Books (Books)

About the author

Roger lancelyn green.

Roger Lancelyn Green was born in 1918 and lived in Oxford and at his family home in Cheshire, which the Greens had owned for more than 900 years. He loved storytelling and was fascinated by traditional fairy tales, myths and legends from around the world. He was a professional actor, a librarian and a teacher. His retellings include Egyptian, Greek and Norse legends, plus a retelling of Robin Hood. He also wrote many books for adults, including a biography of his friend C. S. Lewis, creator of the The Chronicles of Narnia. Roger Lancelyn Green died in 1987.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices