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The Original Robin Hood: traditional ballads and plays including all medieval sources
The Original Robin Hood Traditional ballads and plays, including all medieval sources Translated into Modern English by Thor Ewing
Rhymes of Robin Hood were the great popular literature of medieval England. Now newly translated into fresh Modern English verse, they tell the original story of the outlaw hero. A thorough introduction places the legend in its original context in the reign of King Henry III, and casts fascinating new light on the true identity of the real Robin and his feud with the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Rhymes of Robin Hood were the great popular literature of medieval England. Now newly translated into fresh Modern English verse, they tell the original story of the outlaw hero. A thorough introduction places the legend in its original context in the reign of King Henry III, and casts fascinating new light on the true identity of the real Robin and his feud with the Sheriff of Nottingham.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 9, 2021
Thor has done a great service in this book by bringing together the oldest texts about Robin Hood and translating them into modern English. In doing so, he has brought the medieval legend back to life for the general reader. I can somehow imagine that if there is ever a folk rock revival (and why not?), some of the ballads would make great festival rousers.
Just as interesting is the introduction, in which he presents a very plausible case that not only was Robin Hood a historical character but that he was actually the bastard son of the Countess of Huntingdon, linking him genealogically to the Kings of Scotland.
Full disclosure: Thor is my brother and gave me a free copy of the book.
Just as interesting is the introduction, in which he presents a very plausible case that not only was Robin Hood a historical character but that he was actually the bastard son of the Countess of Huntingdon, linking him genealogically to the Kings of Scotland.
Full disclosure: Thor is my brother and gave me a free copy of the book.
February 3, 2024
I loved this book. It begins with a comprehensive and easy to read introduction giving the historical context behind the original ballads and other historical mentions of Robin Hood from the 1400s/early 1500s, followed by the ballads themselves translated by the author into modern rhyming English that are really fun to read. It then includes the excerpts of a couple of plays, then the mentions of possible Robin Hood in historical documents (such as legal documents). And finally, a delightful surprise that I hadn't expected, the sheet music of a few songs (dated a few hundred years later). The glossary and bibliography are helpful too.
It was really interesting to learn and experience the origins of the Robin Hood stories told (or sung) in the 1400s, which contain the seeds of what developed later (our modern perspective having been arguably popularised and influenced by Howard Pyle's 1883 Merry Adventures). I highly recommend this book to anyone who like me has fallen into a Robin Hood rabbit hole!
It was really interesting to learn and experience the origins of the Robin Hood stories told (or sung) in the 1400s, which contain the seeds of what developed later (our modern perspective having been arguably popularised and influenced by Howard Pyle's 1883 Merry Adventures). I highly recommend this book to anyone who like me has fallen into a Robin Hood rabbit hole!
April 30, 2025
An excellent reader friendly translation of all the Robin Hood ballads! it was super fun to finally be able to read them all! All ballasa are put into fun reable poems! highly recommend reading out load to enjoy the lyrical tone!
Highly recommend this translation to any fan of Robin Hood legend! The essay at the start of the novel is highly inforamtive! i kind of wished.I'd read it after reading the sources so I would not have been influenced by the authors analysis, but the choice is yours.
Highly recommend this translation to any fan of Robin Hood legend! The essay at the start of the novel is highly inforamtive! i kind of wished.I'd read it after reading the sources so I would not have been influenced by the authors analysis, but the choice is yours.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews