Robin Hood

Originally published in 1917 with illustrations by Howard Pyle's student N.C. Wyeth (same text as the Reader's Digest edition). This version recounts the life and adventures of Robin Hood, who, with his band of followers, lived as an outlaw in Sherwood Forest dedicated to fight against tyranny. Written with an intentionally archaic tone, much of the first half recounts the story of Robin Hood's youth, before it begins to blend many of the stories from the ballads into a cohesive whole. Set at first during the reign of Henry II, it tells of Prince John's attempts to become king (and eventual success), but does not include the story of the Magna Charta.

Creswick's retelling offers a few unique aspects: first, it shares a parallel plot with Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, even specifically mentioning Cedrick's friend Athelstane (Saxon claimant to the British throne) and offering very similar scenes with the Black Knight. Second, Creswick brings the women of the story more to the fore, with Marian, Alan-a-Dale's bride, the Princess of Aragon, and the daughter of the Sheriff of Nottingham all contributing to the plot. Third, he offers alternative origin stories for Will Scarlett, Friar Tuck, and the Prioress at Kirklee than I have seen elsewhere (though there are some striking similarities in books published later, like Donald Cooke's Silver Horn of Robin Hood).

There are also some very similar passages in the McSpadden text, and I have seen complaints that Creswick plagiarizes from his edition, which is commonly thought to have been published in 1891. But I actually believe it's the other way around: McSpadden would only have been seventeen in 1891, and the first published edition of his I can find is from 1923.

While this is a larger version of the Robin Hood stories, there are no chapter titles in any version we have encountered, so we have come up with our own!

Contents:

1. The Offer of the Squire of Gamewell / Robin's First Challenge on the Road to Nottingham
2. Arrival at Gamewell Hall
3. Nottingham Fair: The Wizard's Prophecy
4. Riot at the Fair and the Meeting of Will Stuteley
5. Cousin Geoffrey de Montfichet
6. Warrenton's Mission; A Midnight Excursion
7. The Plot of the Treacherous Outlaws
8. Joust & Tourney: A Golden Arrow for Marian
9. The Death of Hugh Fitzooth
10. The Quarrel with the Sheriff of Nottingham
11. Disguised Archery Contest Against Hubert of Normandy; Escape to Locksley
12. The Encounter with Carfax and Rescue by Will o' th' Green
13. The Gamewell Rejection
14. Destruction of Locksley Hall
15. Flight to Barnesdale and Death of Will o' th' Green
16. Robin and the Miller
17. Robin and Little John / Robin and the Bishop of Hereford
18. Robin Turns Butcher / Little John Enters the Sheriff's Service
19. Banqueting the Sheriff / Christening of Robin Hood
20. Sanctuary for Marian at Gamewell / Wedding of Allan-a-Dale
21. Robin and the Tinker
22. Friar Tuck of Fountain's Abbey
23. Rescue of Will Stuteley and the Widow's Three Sons
24. Beggar Robin and the Rescue of Marian
25. Robin and the Tanner / Sir Richard of the Lee
26. Death of King Henry / Introduction of Will Scarlett / Plot Against Marian
27. Little John Goes a-Begging / the Murder of Master Fitzwalter
28. Will Scarlett and the Princess of Aragon
29. The Bishop of Hereford Repays the Debt / Introduction of Guy of Gisborne
30. The Death of Guy of Gisborne / The Mystery of the Fitzwalter Murder
31. The Rescue of Little John and the Aid of Richard of the Lee
32. The Black Knight
33. The Unveiling of King Richard
34. The Weddings of Robin and Geoffrey
    Epilogue: The Death of Robin

Review by Eli Evans
Formerly home educated and now father of five, Eli loves discovering amazing books, new and old, and is an artistic curator at heart. The owner and manager of Exodus since 1998, his focus is on offering thoughtful and well-written books that inspire the imagination and promote creativity and diligence while living for God. Read more of his reviews here.