What do you think?
Rate this book
Robin Hood: The Life and Legend of an Outlaw
"An impressively researched, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, Robin The Life and Legend of an Outlaw is an extraordinary combination of biography and cultural history." – Midwest Book Review
Robin Hood is a national English icon. He is portrayed as a noble robber, who, along with his band of merry men, is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor. His story has been re-imagined many times throughout the centuries.
Readers will be introduced to some of the candidates who are thought to have been the real Robin Hood, before journeying into the fifteenth century and learning about the various ‘rymes of Robyn Hode’ that were in existence. This book then shows how Robin Hood was first cast as an earl in the sixteenth century, before discussing his portrayals as a brutish criminal in the eighteenth century. Then learn how Robin Hood became the epitome of an English gentleman in the Victorian era, before examining how he became an Americanized, populist hero fit for the silver screen during the twentieth century.
Thus, this book will take readers on a journey through 800 years of English cultural and literary history by examining how the legend of Robin Hood has developed over time.
Robin Hood is a national English icon. He is portrayed as a noble robber, who, along with his band of merry men, is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor. His story has been re-imagined many times throughout the centuries.
Readers will be introduced to some of the candidates who are thought to have been the real Robin Hood, before journeying into the fifteenth century and learning about the various ‘rymes of Robyn Hode’ that were in existence. This book then shows how Robin Hood was first cast as an earl in the sixteenth century, before discussing his portrayals as a brutish criminal in the eighteenth century. Then learn how Robin Hood became the epitome of an English gentleman in the Victorian era, before examining how he became an Americanized, populist hero fit for the silver screen during the twentieth century.
Thus, this book will take readers on a journey through 800 years of English cultural and literary history by examining how the legend of Robin Hood has developed over time.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 27, 2019
9 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Basdeo
20 books11 followersStephen Basdeo completed his BA (Hons) History in 2013 at Leeds Beckett University. During this time Stephen wrote a dissertation on the periodicals of Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. Stephen's dissertation went to win the Alan MacGregor Award for Exceptional Contribution to the School of Cultural Studies. He is Assistant Professor of History at Richmond University (Leeds RIASA).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 26, 2019
Robin Hood is a non-fiction study that attempts to discover just who the legendary Sherwood Forest outlaw really was.
Was he a common thief, a disgraced nobleman or man who truly did rob from the rich to give to the poor? Or was he nothing but a fictional character whose tale was acted out at village festivals? See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eXH
Was he a common thief, a disgraced nobleman or man who truly did rob from the rich to give to the poor? Or was he nothing but a fictional character whose tale was acted out at village festivals? See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eXH
September 4, 2022
This is a comprehensive and interesting chronological exploration of the various writings of the Robin Hood legend over the years since the 1200s (and a brief look at who the real Robin Hood may have been), including poems, ballads, plays, novels and, in the final chapters, TV and film adaptations. As well as the ways in which the stories evolved and why, the author discusses the political and economical context in which they were written, giving a holistic view and demonstrating how adaptable the bare bones of the legend is and why it has been continuously retold. The book includes snippets and quotes from the various ballads and stories, plus illustrations at the back (at least, in my Kindle edition), and is written in an approachable, friendly way that is easy to read.
June 17, 2021
This book wasn't quite what I thought. I believed it was more about the Medieval Robin hood legends and the historical evidence and context for them.
Its actually an examination of the various ballads, stories and plays about Robin Hood, and the development of the legends over the centuries, as well as how his character has changed. Only the first few chapters are on the Medieval period.
However, it is a good and useful book on Robin Hood, the legends, and the historiography.
I am a reviewer for Pen and Sword Books and requested a copy of this title. This in no way impacted my review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Its actually an examination of the various ballads, stories and plays about Robin Hood, and the development of the legends over the centuries, as well as how his character has changed. Only the first few chapters are on the Medieval period.
However, it is a good and useful book on Robin Hood, the legends, and the historiography.
I am a reviewer for Pen and Sword Books and requested a copy of this title. This in no way impacted my review and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 31, 2019
Not a bad bunch of research. Might be interesting for some young adults but could be a tad tedious in areas. There is much research/insight into not only the historical legend but analysis of the texts and then movies and tv about RH. Snippets of the old English ballads are included as well as some interesting graphic illustrations. This book would be good for literary students as well as Basdeo goes into the history and literary efforts of the time. Some good work done here, if sometimes he does drag on a bit in his analysis.
March 17, 2022
My favourite Robin Hood non-fiction book, so far!
Basdeo gives us a short, breezy, easy-read overview of the development of Robin Hood stories across 800 years. Enough detail is given so the reader can understand how each change to the legend reflected changes in society and audience at the time it was (re)written, highlighting the adaptability and mutability of the Robin Hood legends, which has enabled it to survive to the present day and remain such a well-known piece of popular culture.
Basdeo's book is more thorough than Doel's Robin Hood: Outlaw or Greenwood Myth, more enjoyable than Holt's Robin Hood, and more honest than Phillips and Keatman's Robin Hood: The Man Behind the Myth. I still have a few more RH books to read, but I'm very happy I picked this one up.
Basdeo gives us a short, breezy, easy-read overview of the development of Robin Hood stories across 800 years. Enough detail is given so the reader can understand how each change to the legend reflected changes in society and audience at the time it was (re)written, highlighting the adaptability and mutability of the Robin Hood legends, which has enabled it to survive to the present day and remain such a well-known piece of popular culture.
Basdeo's book is more thorough than Doel's Robin Hood: Outlaw or Greenwood Myth, more enjoyable than Holt's Robin Hood, and more honest than Phillips and Keatman's Robin Hood: The Man Behind the Myth. I still have a few more RH books to read, but I'm very happy I picked this one up.
August 28, 2019
When one studies history, one comes across legends and myths that seem to transcend time itself. In England, there are two such legends. One, of course, is King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The other is of a rogue and his band of merry men, who “stole from the rich and gave to the poor”. Of course, I am speaking of none other than Robin Hood. When exploring Robin Hood, tons of questions come to mind. Who was Robin Hood? Was Robin Hood an actual person? How did his legend change over time? Stephen Basdeo, an Assistant Professor of History at Richmond University, dives into discovering the truth about Robin Hood in his latest book, “Robin Hood: The Life and Legend of an Outlaw”.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I grew up really enjoying tales of Robin Hood, so reading about the legend and how it came to be was delightful.
Basdeo explores two central concepts in this book, the historicity of Robin Hood and the historiography of the legend of Robin Hood. For casual readers, these terms may seem intimidating, however, Basdeo takes the time to explain the purpose of this book and what these terms mean. Historicity explores the historical authenticity of a person or event; in other words, if Robin Hood was a real person, who is the most likely person in history who could have been the original “Robin Hood”. Historiography is the study of the methods of how historians write history. When a historian writes a historiographical study about a certain topic, such as Robin Hood, they explore centuries of historical research and explains why past historians had the bias that they did towards a figure. Although what Basdeo is exploring the literature of Robin Hood in this historiographical study, he does explore how the story changed over 800 years in a very similar way.
Basdeo starts his study of Robin Hood by exploring who the actual Robin Hood might have been and why he believes that this man was Robin Hood. Readers then jump ahead to the 15th century when the first tales of the outlaw first appeared. It is here that we start to see Robin and his merry men becoming part of the culture and the history of England. Basdeo goes through each century, exploring the way different authors put their own spin on the story. As the centuries changed, so did the way the story of Robin Hood was told; from ballads to books and penny dreadfuls to films and eventually comics.
This was such a fun and insightful book to read. Basdeo is able to combine the history of each century with how that changed the Robin Hood narrative and a light, readable writing style. This book feels like you are having a casual conversation with Basdeo about Robin Hood, Maid Marian, the merry men, and the numerous opponents Robin fought. If you want a book that gives great insight into the legend of Robin Hood and how it came to be, I highly recommend you read, “Robin Hood: The Life and Legend of an Outlaw” by Stephen Basdeo.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I grew up really enjoying tales of Robin Hood, so reading about the legend and how it came to be was delightful.
Basdeo explores two central concepts in this book, the historicity of Robin Hood and the historiography of the legend of Robin Hood. For casual readers, these terms may seem intimidating, however, Basdeo takes the time to explain the purpose of this book and what these terms mean. Historicity explores the historical authenticity of a person or event; in other words, if Robin Hood was a real person, who is the most likely person in history who could have been the original “Robin Hood”. Historiography is the study of the methods of how historians write history. When a historian writes a historiographical study about a certain topic, such as Robin Hood, they explore centuries of historical research and explains why past historians had the bias that they did towards a figure. Although what Basdeo is exploring the literature of Robin Hood in this historiographical study, he does explore how the story changed over 800 years in a very similar way.
Basdeo starts his study of Robin Hood by exploring who the actual Robin Hood might have been and why he believes that this man was Robin Hood. Readers then jump ahead to the 15th century when the first tales of the outlaw first appeared. It is here that we start to see Robin and his merry men becoming part of the culture and the history of England. Basdeo goes through each century, exploring the way different authors put their own spin on the story. As the centuries changed, so did the way the story of Robin Hood was told; from ballads to books and penny dreadfuls to films and eventually comics.
This was such a fun and insightful book to read. Basdeo is able to combine the history of each century with how that changed the Robin Hood narrative and a light, readable writing style. This book feels like you are having a casual conversation with Basdeo about Robin Hood, Maid Marian, the merry men, and the numerous opponents Robin fought. If you want a book that gives great insight into the legend of Robin Hood and how it came to be, I highly recommend you read, “Robin Hood: The Life and Legend of an Outlaw” by Stephen Basdeo.
August 2, 2020
This book was fascinating! Thoroughly researched and well put together, I learned more about this legend than I thought possible. From court records from the year 1220 to silver screen portrayals in the 21st century, it's clear that Robin Hood is a story to appeal to the masses through time. Basdeo keeps the information well organized and easy to follow, and I particularly liked the inclusion of some of the poems from Medieval times.
July 19, 2019
An excellent overview of the Robin Hood legend with particular focus on the 17th-19th centuries. A good summary. Although there are a couple slips in the medieval section and bizarrely omits Reginald De Koven's contribution, although he was less acclaimed in the UK than America.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews