3.71 avg rating — 299 ratings

"Probably the greatest historical inquiry into the origins of the Robin Hood legend to date. A must-read for the historical detective hunting down an elusive quarry..."

4.33 avg rating — 24 ratings

"A great introduction to the world of early Robin Hood literature."

3.87 avg rating — 60 ratings

"An early study of outlaws in medieval England and Scotland, Keen introduces the reader not only to Robin Hood, but William Wallace and lesser known outlaws like Adam Bell and William Cloudesley, Hereward, Eustace the Monk and Fulk fitz-Warin."

3.51 avg rating — 43 ratings

"As the title suggests, this is not a hunt for a historical Robin Hood candidate, but rather a study of how Robin Hood would have been perceived by a 14th century audience and why. "

3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings

"The author takes the reader on a delightful tour of the legend and the countryside in which its tales are so often set."

3.78 avg rating — 120 ratings

"A thorough examination of the development of the Robin Hood legend over centuries up to the end of the 20th century."

3.63 avg rating — 38 ratings

"A good all-purpose introduction to Robin Hood on the levels the title suggests. "

3.75 avg rating — 793 ratings

"Not specifically a Robin Hood book, but Hobsbawm sheds light on the whole phenomenon that makes it possible for the public to perceive a state-certified criminal as a folk hero. A great read, even if you are not interested in Robin Hood himself."

3.28 avg rating — 92 ratings

"One of many books that argue the case that a particular candidate from history may have been the original Robin Hood, or more precisely, may have influenced the development of the legend. The author is sufficiently cautious here to avoid definitively stating that his candidate was the original RH, but he makes a good argument for the influence."

3.69 avg rating — 26 ratings

"I know... it sounds crazy. But the author actually makes a very good case here without making any wild unsupported statements, and where literature involving Templars is concerned, that is something in and of itself. Check it out."

2.67 avg rating — 3 ratings

"An interesting book that argues for Roger Godberd, knight and outlaw, as the probable prototype for the Robin Hood of legend."

3.88 avg rating — 33 ratings

"A good summation of the case for the 13th/14th century Robert Hood of Wakefield being a source for the Robin Hood legend."

3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings

"Not a terrible introduction to the legend, short and sweet. There are some annoying omissions and historical errors."

2.25 avg rating — 4 ratings

"Entertaining theory about a multi-generational origin for the Robin Hood legend with a succession of knights from Wellow passing on the secret identity of Robin Hood from father to son across the decades and centuries from the 12th - 14th centuries. Kind of reminds me of Lee Falk's Phantom."

2.67 avg rating — 3 ratings

"Provides a nice selection of illustrations and a guide to some of the sites associated with Robin Hood, mostly in Yorkshire."

4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings