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The Outlaws of Sherwood

The Outlaws of Sherwood is a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood by Robin McKinley.[1][2] In McKinley's afterword, she says, "The retellings through the centuries have echoed concurrent preoccupations." The story includes both the traditional Robin Hood characters — Little John, Much, Friar Tuck, Marian and Alan-a-dale — and characters of McKinley's own invention. Notably, three of the most important characters are women, all of whom escape marriage to prospective spouses chosen by their fathers.[2]

The Outlaws of Sherwood
First edition
AuthorRobin McKinley
Cover artistAlan Lee
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience Fiction and Fantasy
PublisherGreenwillow Books
Ace Fantasy
Firebird
Publication date
1988 (Greenwillow)
1989 (Ace Fantasy)
2002 (Firebird)
Published in English
1988
Pages288 (hardcover)
ISBN978-0-688-07178-3 (hardcover)
978-0698119598 (paperback, 2002 edition)

Summary edit

Robin is a forester in Sherwood forest. As he leaves an archery contest, someone shoots at him and only just misses. Without thinking, Robin returns fire and kills someone. Robin's friends Marian and Much convince him to become an outlaw. Robin hides in Sherwood Forest and gathers a band to oppose the tyrannous Sheriff of Nottingham. Unsurprisingly they rob the rich, give to the poor, and poach deer.

Newcomers join the band, including the huge Little John and Will Scarlet. Will hears that his sister does not want to marry a Norman baron, but Robin refuses to help. A young minstrel named Alan-a-dale asks for help. His beloved, Marjorie, is to wed a baron and he wants to rescue her. The outlaws get Friar Tuck to perform the marriage to Alan instead of the original groom. Alan and Marjorie join Robin's band, which takes in a mysterious young man called Cecil, who is later found to be a girl, and whom Will recognizes as his sister, Cecily. She stays in the band.

Robin hears that Sir Richard of the Lea, who had been kind to Robin when he was a forester, is about to lose his property due to debts. The outlaws give Sir Richard the money he needs.

There is an archery contest with a prize of a golden arrow; it is clearly a trap so Robin does not go. Marian wears a disguise and wins the contest. Guy of Gisbourne, a mercenary hired by the Sheriff of Nottingham, attacks her thinking that she is Robin. Cecily and Little John spirit Marian away to Friar Tuck's hideout in the forest. Marian is badly hurt. Robin tells her he loves her and asks her to marry him. Guy of Gisbourne and his men find Tuck's hideout. The band beat them off.

Sir Richard takes the outlaws to his castle to keep them safe but the Sheriff is furious that Sir Richard is protecting them. Both he and Sir Richard send word to King Richard the Lionheart. Little John and Cecily say they love each other. King Richard shows up at Sir Richard's castle unannounced. He makes all the outlaws swear loyalty to him, and tells them that they must join the crusades. The king makes Robin the heir to Sir Richard’s lands and says that Robin and Marian can marry.

Reception edit

Reviewing The Outlaws of Sherwood in Dragon magazine, John C. Bunnell stated "McKinley's retelling of Sherwood Forest's familiar history is wise and deeply satisfying, enough so that it is hard to imagine a version of the legend that could be discernibly better".[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Bunnell, John C., "The Role of Books". Dragon Magazine, TSR, Inc. Issue 151, November 1989, (pg.46)
  2. ^ a b Lampe, David. "The Heirs/Errors of "Ivanhoe" : Robin Hood in Pre- and Post-Modern Fiction",. In Hahn, Thomas G. (ed.) Robin Hood in Popular Culture: Violence, Transgression, and Justice Boydell and Brewer, 2000. ISBN 9780859915649 (pgs. 136-137)

External links edit

  • The Outlaws of Sherwood at Robin McKinley's website
  • "Transgressive Transformations: Representations of Maid Marian in Robin Hood Retellings" by Lorinda B. Cohoon
  • "Robin Hood Comes of Age" by Rebecca Barnhouse

outlaws, sherwood, retelling, legend, robin, hood, robin, mckinley, mckinley, afterword, says, retellings, through, centuries, have, echoed, concurrent, preoccupations, story, includes, both, traditional, robin, hood, characters, little, john, much, friar, tuc. The Outlaws of Sherwood is a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood by Robin McKinley 1 2 In McKinley s afterword she says The retellings through the centuries have echoed concurrent preoccupations The story includes both the traditional Robin Hood characters Little John Much Friar Tuck Marian and Alan a dale and characters of McKinley s own invention Notably three of the most important characters are women all of whom escape marriage to prospective spouses chosen by their fathers 2 The Outlaws of SherwoodFirst editionAuthorRobin McKinleyCover artistAlan LeeLanguageEnglishGenreScience Fiction and FantasyPublisherGreenwillow Books Ace Fantasy FirebirdPublication date1988 Greenwillow 1989 Ace Fantasy 2002 Firebird Published in English1988Pages288 hardcover ISBN978 0 688 07178 3 hardcover 978 0698119598 paperback 2002 edition Contents 1 Summary 2 Reception 3 References 4 External linksSummary editRobin is a forester in Sherwood forest As he leaves an archery contest someone shoots at him and only just misses Without thinking Robin returns fire and kills someone Robin s friends Marian and Much convince him to become an outlaw Robin hides in Sherwood Forest and gathers a band to oppose the tyrannous Sheriff of Nottingham Unsurprisingly they rob the rich give to the poor and poach deer Newcomers join the band including the huge Little John and Will Scarlet Will hears that his sister does not want to marry a Norman baron but Robin refuses to help A young minstrel named Alan a dale asks for help His beloved Marjorie is to wed a baron and he wants to rescue her The outlaws get Friar Tuck to perform the marriage to Alan instead of the original groom Alan and Marjorie join Robin s band which takes in a mysterious young man called Cecil who is later found to be a girl and whom Will recognizes as his sister Cecily She stays in the band Robin hears that Sir Richard of the Lea who had been kind to Robin when he was a forester is about to lose his property due to debts The outlaws give Sir Richard the money he needs There is an archery contest with a prize of a golden arrow it is clearly a trap so Robin does not go Marian wears a disguise and wins the contest Guy of Gisbourne a mercenary hired by the Sheriff of Nottingham attacks her thinking that she is Robin Cecily and Little John spirit Marian away to Friar Tuck s hideout in the forest Marian is badly hurt Robin tells her he loves her and asks her to marry him Guy of Gisbourne and his men find Tuck s hideout The band beat them off Sir Richard takes the outlaws to his castle to keep them safe but the Sheriff is furious that Sir Richard is protecting them Both he and Sir Richard send word to King Richard the Lionheart Little John and Cecily say they love each other King Richard shows up at Sir Richard s castle unannounced He makes all the outlaws swear loyalty to him and tells them that they must join the crusades The king makes Robin the heir to Sir Richard s lands and says that Robin and Marian can marry Reception editReviewing The Outlaws of Sherwood in Dragon magazine John C Bunnell stated McKinley s retelling of Sherwood Forest s familiar history is wise and deeply satisfying enough so that it is hard to imagine a version of the legend that could be discernibly better 1 References edit a b Bunnell John C The Role of Books Dragon Magazine TSR Inc Issue 151 November 1989 pg 46 a b Lampe David The Heirs Errors of Ivanhoe Robin Hood in Pre and Post Modern Fiction In Hahn Thomas G ed Robin Hood in Popular Culture Violence Transgression and Justice Boydell and Brewer 2000 ISBN 9780859915649 pgs 136 137 External links editThe Outlaws of Sherwood at Robin McKinley s website Transgressive Transformations Representations of Maid Marian in Robin Hood Retellings by Lorinda B Cohoon Robin Hood Comes of Age by Rebecca Barnhouse Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Outlaws of Sherwood amp oldid 1147472485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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