Robin Hood: A True Legend

by Sean McGlynn

'Superb … reveals the real history behind the myths' Saul David The legend of Robin Hood has gripped the popular imagination ever since his exploits were first told in the Middle Ages. Whether as thief, hero or violent bringer of justice, Robin Hood continues to assert himself over the centuries, still featuring heavily in mainstream culture in the 21st century. But what is the truth behind the legend? Historians and folklorists have been exploring the Robin Hood story for centuries, attempting to separate fact and myth. In this new book, Dr Sean McGlynn, a leading medievalist, offers a radically fresh approach, based on original research that has received global media attention. The author examines the first stories of Robin Hood as they appeared in the late Middle Ages and explains their appeal to contemporary audiences, against a background of violent disorder and troubled times. But a clearer understanding requires delving further back into the earlier medieval period to consider more fully the problems of name, time and place (and the questionable dominance of Sherwood Forest). Crime, brutal punishment, and the dramatic exploits of English medieval outlaws are discussed in vivid detail before the author assesses real-life figures who have been suggested as the inspiration behind the Robin Hood story and why these fail to hit the mark. The book then reveals a contender who has previously been completely overlooked but who is the most likely inspiration for the emergence of the Robin Hood legend in thirteenth-century England. By focusing on war in a time of national crisis, when a forgotten French invasion occupied half of the country, this book reveals a true-life hero and legend who has previously been lost to history, a soldier who resolves the hero-outlaw paradox and who fits perfectly into the timing of the legend’s origins. And yes – he really was a bowman living in the forest. Dr Sean McGlynn is the author of three critically acclaimed By Sword and Cruelty and Atrocity in Medieval Warfare; Blood Cries The Forgotten Invasion of England, 1216; and Kill Them Cathars and Carnage in the Albigensian Crusade. He is a regular contributor to BBC History, History Today and The Spectator. His research has previously received global media attention. In 2013 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Praise for Sean McGlynn “McGlynn tells a dashing story with gusto … an entertaining military history.” Dan Jones, The Spectator "Unlike many books on warfare, this volume dares to say what others won't.... Sean McGlynn's excellent book...paints a bleak but accurate picture of men at war.... McGlynn makes a convincing case as he analyses battles, sieges and campaigns” Andy McNab, Mail on Sunday "Excellent...vividly and wittily related, full of detail, and consistently fascinating" The Daily Telegraph

Genres: History, Nonfiction

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2018

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but dashed interesting, as Bertie Wooster might put it, and well worth it just to learn about William of Cassingham, who led a guerilla resistance against the French invasion of southern England in the 1200s with a company of bowmen, striking from the Weald south of London. McGlynn begins by examining the various appearances of Robin Hood and associated figures in English lore, speculating that some characters were the core figures of their own storytelling traditions and were later enveloped along with Robin's: he draws a comparison between the independent existence of Captain America, Hulk, etc and their later convergence into the Avengers. McGlynn then examines Britain's extant historical records for hints of men who might be the basis of the Robin legends, weighs the merits of several contenders. McGlynn strongly favors William of Cassingham, otherwise known as Willikin of the Weald. If you're at all interested in the Robin Hood mythos this is a great little read, and it opened some parts of English history up that I had no idea existed. I will definitely be reading McGlynn's book on the French invasion, Blood Cries Afar.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. McGlynn has introduced a strong new contender into the field of candidates who may have inspired the Robin Hood legend. His argument is strong and worth taking seriously. This would be a five-star review if not for the many small errors that might have been eliminated if given another pass by a proof-reader.

[MichaelK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and enjoyable book which presents a little known historical figure - William of Kensham - as a possible overlooked influence on the early Robin Hood legends.

While the book successfully convinced me that the life and legend of this William probably were a strong influence on the early Robin Hood tales, I don't fully support McGlynn's conclusion that William of Kensham 'is the single most important real-life figure in the development of the Robin Hood story'. To convince of that point would require a longer book, using sources that are probably lost forever, but at least what we have here is an interesting theory that is well-argued from the few sources it has.

The physical edition suffers from having a 'self-published' vibe - the cover looks and feels cheap, and the text has an annoying number of typos throughout - which inevitably weakens the argument in the reader's unconscious. The lack of in-text citations was also a bit annoying - there is a bibliography, but many of the claims made and sources quoted would have benefited from endnote citations.

This is all a shame, because McGlynn writes well, coming across as reasonable and very knowledgeable, and I am glad I read it. I am considering buying his Blood Cries Afar: The Forgotten Invasion of England 1216.

[Geoff Boxell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all English school boys I read Robin Hood tales, watched Robin Hood films and played with a bow and arrows. In later years I took up re-enacting as a 14thC English archer. No matter whether wearing foresters' green and brown clothing or Cheshire archer green and white livery or even the flashy blue and yellow parti-colour livery of Sir Alan de Buxhall, people still called me "Robin Hood"! So, I thought I'd better know more about him: I now have a dozen text books or articles on the subject. Of them all this is the easiest one to read and the one most likely to be able to point to the original source of the legend that is Robin Hood.
A couple of years back I read author Sean McGlynn's "Blood Cries Afar" about the French invasion of England 1215-17. Part of it dealt with Wilikin of the Weald. What I read inspired me to write a novel about the man and his bands of archers (https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-You-Go-Do...) and give my own fictional version of the origins of Robin Hood.
McGlynn, in this short book, explores all possible sources of the Robin Hood legend and then, using time and place, comes down to who he believes was the original source whilst accepting how other outlaws and romance figure have expanded the tales.
The book is highly recommended (just don't get hung up on some small typos).

[Pogo Dragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly thought that this short book was a published version of a Master's dissertation. I am astounded to find that the author is a lecturer in history. There are so many irritating proofing errors ("an English gentlemen" type things), which in themselves are not fatal but a couple of times were such that I had to stop and re-read to make sure I knew what the sentence meant to say.

I was born and raised in Nottingham so, obviously, I know that Robin Hood was real and did live in Sherwood Forest.

That said, this is an interesting examination of the origins of the legends and I am willing, when not labouring under my Nottingham blood, to allow that perhaps the person of Robin Hood is an accumulation of stories and tropes. For me the main take away from this book is the bibliography at the end, as a book (or an extended essay) it is in dire need of a good shake out by a strong editor.

[Victoria Pring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book facinating. I was unaware of where the story of robin hood originated, pretty much only knowing about the issue with king Richard and Prince John at the time. This book broke down each aspect of the Robin Hood tale, from the location (seriously unlikely to be sherwood forest) to even the time period in which the book was set (which shocked me as I thought that bit was certain atleast). This book also discusses some solid contenders that could have actually been the famous Robin Hood or could have atleast been inspiration. After reading this book I am of the opinion that the reason there is so much uncertainty around this legend may be down to the fact Robin Hood may not have been a single person but rater a concept or idea that was widly adopted and the people who purportrated these ideas adopted the mantle of Robin Hood to retain their anonymity. As with most legends though there will never be a way of actually knowing this, it is all just a guessing game.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is small, but it packs a mighty punch, sharp as one of Robin Hoods arrows!
A very fun, enjoyable read! I enjoyed the authors theory of William of Kensham! The book also has some interesting, funny, and "unique" looks at crime and punishment in medieval England.

The stories of Robin Hood were for the people of the Middle Ages what the novels of crime winters like Martina Cole are for us today! No wounder, she is a favorite of mine! My love of crime fiction, in a sense, started with Robin Hood ;)

[Paul baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Medieval Detective

An interesting account of possible real life role models for Robin Hood. The author plumps for William of Kensham in Kent known as Willekin of the Weald fighting against the French invaders under Louis. Much is shady - not least the almost un- mentioned in English history of that invasion perhaps to keep alive the myth that there was only one invasion, that of 1066? Yet Louis was fighting from Dover to Lincoln.

[Gary Loewy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got bored

I do like a good origins story, and like most men my age grow up reading stories about Robin Hood and King Arthur.
This is a short book, which was a relief. I found it quite dry lots of facts not a lot of substance.
The last 2 chapters where interesting.

[Rob Sedgwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

More questions than answers

Don't expect a definitive answer to who Robin Hood really was but the author does his best. Most of his merry men were probably tagged on afterwards, as the story was embellished.

[Peter John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful Background

I liked the background information on crime and punishment in the Middle Ages. I was fascinated by the description of
Willikin of the Weald.
I would have liked more on the author's rejection of other contenders such as Robert of Wakefield.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched. I learned many things about English history and events that I was not familiar with before. The writing style was reader friendly and the pace of the book was well done. A nice quick read that was interesting and informative.

[Matthew Richey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read but not worth it.

[Matt Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts are very good, other parts hard to understand. Very short book on subject I like, yet it took me a long time to read because it didn’t grab me.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughtful and well-informed, with some very useful insights about the origins of the Robin Hood story. In particular, he addresses the question of who, if anyone, was the 'real' Robin Hood. He concludes that there was very probably an individual who gave rise to the tales, although pointing out some reasons to suppose the contrary, and analyses the case for certain historical figures. Although he makes his arguments with care, I am not really convinced by his overall conclusion.

So far as I can see, the story is really a composite tale with elements that would have been plausible to 15th century audiences, but as a whole not really a 'true' legend.

[P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any attempt to identify the real Robin Hood is to be lauded, however, this attempt is totally wide of the mark. Nice effort by definately no coconut! Apart though from the use of the bow, McGlynn’s candidate operated in Kent and Sussex (about as far from Barnsdale as you can get); fought for only a year and not the twenty or more of the legend; was never linked to the nickname Robin Hood; was never outlawed; waged military war not thieving juicy targets along the highway; did not use disguises or battle with the Sheriff or church officials and overall bears little or no relation to the lifetime of the legend or any of the content of the original ballads.