While Robin might view himself as ordinary, he is still at the root of something extraordinary. As he leaves an archery contest, someone shoots at him and only just misses. His boss, the Chief Forester, hates him as the son of the man who married the woman the Chief Forester wanted for himself, and his cronies have been bullying Robin. Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley. In their attempt to take Robin down, he strikes back with an arrow that kills one of the men (Robin was aiming at the mans leg; his lack of archery skill backfires on him in a deadly way here, though it may have saved his life). Instead, Unns anger at the monks speech caused Berg to kill the man. , ISBN-10 Robin hides from the vengeful Sheriff of Nottingham in Sherwood Forest. But Robin's inability to split a willow wand or opponent's arrow at ludicrous distances is not the most important change in Robin's character or the biggest example of him being an ordinary hero. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley. What is the prizea lamb? You can subscribe to our posts via email, email digest, browser notifications, Twitter, RSS, etc. From then on, Robin is on the run-but he is not alone. It doesn't matter. click here to subscribe without commenting. It had been their great good luck that he had died so suddenly of the winter catarrh; but he had driven himself very hard since his wife died, and was not so strong as he had been. : Marian remains in her fathers castle but uses her position to secretly supply the band with food and other necessities and spy for them. The day before the Nottingham fair, a year after Robin became an outlaw, Cecil is discovered to be a girl, and Will recognizes her as his sister, Cecily, who had hid in her room so she wouldnt have to be married. Marian wears a disguise and wins the contest. WebThe Outlaws of Sherwood. There was a problem loading your book clubs. um yay? They seek out Wills friend Friar Tuck to perform the wedding ceremony and show up at the chapel on Marjories wedding day, where Marjorie marries Alan instead of the original groom, the disgruntled baron. My first encounter with the tale itself was no doubt the Disney animated version (which I still love watching with my son), but I'm pretty sure the first actual novelization I read was Robin McKinley's THE OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD. Cliff Notes , Cliffnotes , and Cliff's Notes are trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc. SparkNotes and Spark Notes are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. Lampe, David. Meanwhile, Little John and others rob the barons house. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. My only real criticism is the very, very end of the book. While the men are lost in reverie, Unn, a beautiful young woman, rows pasther skin is white like water lilies, her eyes and hair are dark, and her skirt is blue with a wide red hem. But he knew he would be able to sell them to Sir Richard of the Lea, his best customerand the kindest, though Robin tried not to think about that too much in the fear that he might realise he should not accept the kindness. Forbidden Forests. Forced to flee, Robin shoots some arrows in self-defence at his attackers. Now that would be a fun Master's thesis subject. to read read. 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. Usually I quite like McKinley's retellings, but this one I found remarkably boring. "They are very fine." He tried to whistle, but gave it up as a bad job. She stays in the band. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2014. All rights reserved. A young minstrel named Alan-a-dale asks for help. Do you? Privately Robin felt that Marian had a good chance of winning; she was one of those who always allowed for the breeze that would kick up from nowhere after the arrow had left the string. 2004 eNotes.com Let them think the unpleasantness was minor, left over from the old romantic story of how his father and the Chief Forester had courted the same woman, and his father had won her, despite the Chief Forester's better standingand private income. WebThe Outlaws of Sherwood Robin McKinley. She wants to have her mind blown. From then on, Robin is on the run-but he is not alone. But such a summary, while accurate in the broad strokes, does not do The Outlaws of Sherwood justice. Both he and Sir Richard send word to King Richard the Lionheart. Something went wrong. After he accidentally kills one of eNotes.com, Inc. ). Fortunately for his peace of mind, Robin was usually too busy, and too short on sleep and food, to have time and energy for thinking. In Hahn, Thomas G. A young girl searching for the worlds within books. It was undamaged, he was relieved to see; he had a living to earn, and little time to spend making his own arrows. The following day Berg tells him that Unn was the woman for whom he killed the monk. After seeing too many action movies with rapid recoveries, it's a relief to see that McKinley knows there are other possible outcomes to swordplay than just dramatic deaths or nice-looking, fast-healing and unimportant scars. Greenwillow Books, $17 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-688-07178-3. But Robin does not want to leave Nottingham or lose the title to his fathers small tenancy, because he is in love with a young lady named Marian and keeps remembering that his mother too was gentry and married a common forester. The son of a Sherwood Forester is set upon on his way to Nottingham Fair and, defending himself, young Robin accidentally kills his tormentor. On his way to Nottingham Fair, a young apprentice forester named Robin is accosted by some of his fellow foresters. This makes for an interesting twist on the famous archery contest story. Among his band are Marian, Will Scarlet, Little John and Friar Tuck. A retelling of Plus, there's my personal reaction to a certain historical event (and contemporary parallels) that colours my response to the ending. the Robin Hood stories for both young adults and grown ups. Tantor Media has recently produced an audio edition of The Outlaws of Sherwood which is nicely performed by Justine Eyre. ), "Transgressive Transformations: Representations of Maid Marian in Robin Hood Retellings" by Lorinda B. Cohoon, "Robin Hood Comes of Age" by Rebecca Barnhouse, Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse, The King's Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood, The Downfall and The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington, Robin of Sherwood: The Touchstones of Rhiannon, Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood, The Tales of Robin Hood (former Nottingham attraction), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Outlaws_of_Sherwood&oldid=1147472485, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 March 2023, at 05:32. Without thinking, Robin returns fire and kills someone. He had to stop the smile that wanted to spread across his face from appearing till his name was calleda cautious third. When she reads fiction, she wants to encounter new ideas and lots of imagination. There were those who said that Bill Sharp's real father was the Chief Forester, and not the farmer who had bred him upand sent him off to be an apprentice forester at the earliest possible opportunity. Just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers.LOG IN. date the date you are citing the material. WebPaperback: Ace Books, 1989. No spoilers here, but it did not leave this reader feeling good. Sir Richard takes the outlaws to his castle to keep them safe but the Sheriff is furious that Sir Richard is protecting them. I love Robin, Marian, Little John, Will Scarlet, Much the Miller, Alan-a-Dale, and the whole merry crew. 2021-09-02 06:10:54. fiction fantasy historical young adult adventurous mysterious slow-paced. But while the present Chief Forester remained, there was no chance of marriage for Robin, neither to a member of the gentry nor to the humblest village girl, who would never contemplate sleeping apart from her chickens were she so fortunate as to own any. Sony Alpha-A6300 (Control) Sony Alpha-A6300 (Control) She lives with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson. Admittedly, I seem to possess the McKinley gene. On his way, Robin is accosted by some of the other foresters. Its mostly a pleasant and enjoyable read, but theres an extremely violent and bloody battle toward the end that is rather harrowing. Robin Longbow is a sub-apprentice forester in Sherwood Forest, barely eking out a living-and barely able to control his temper when he is confronted by the taunts of the Chief Forester's favorite. "Golden arrow? Language: English. Boxid. "Why, for the golden arrow," said Marian. Putting a new twist on an enduring legend is, of course, nothing new. Publisher: Not specified. One forester is accidentally killed. Buy The Outlaws of Sherwood on Amazon.ca, Text and Location pictures, Copyright 2022 Allen W. Wright - All Rights ReservedOther pictures and quoted text are copyright their respective owners and used under fair use for the purpose of criticism and review.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from the links associated with these interviews (at no additonal cost to you).This page is a part of Robin Hood -- Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood, - Children's book by the well-known popular historian, - A historical novel with a positive portayal of Philip Mark, the sheriff in the reign of King John, series of young adult novels starring Marian, - Read Robin Hood ballads, poems, short stories and comic books, Buy The Outlaws of Sherwood on Amazon.com, Buy The Outlaws of Sherwood on Amazon.co.uk, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (BANCROFT CLASSICS), THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD BY MAJOR CHARLES GILSON, THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM BY RICHARD KLUGER, FRIAR TUCK AND THE CHRISTMAS DEVIL BY STEVEN A. McKAY, WOLFSHEAD THROUGH THE AGES: CHILDREN'S STORIES AND COMIC OPERAS, Robin Hood -- Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood. McKinley brings to the Robin Hood legend a robustly romantic view. If there is a The Outlaws of Sherwood SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. There was even a separate coop for his wife's chickens, built against one outside wall of the cottage, where the birds were not only out from underfoot in the house, with their dirt and their feathers, but safe from foxes and other marauders as well. One careless shot, and he has killed the man. One forester is accidentally killed. After he accidentally kills one of them, he is forced to flee and go into hiding. WebSummary Full Book Summary During the reign of King Henry II in England, 18-year-old Robin Hood gets into a fight on the way to an archery competition, accidentally killing a forester. to read read. Robin serves as a king's forester in Sherwood forest and fletches arrows to McKinley brings to the Robin Hood legend a robustly romantic view. "I will not have to," replied Marian, "so long as evading my father's questions when I wish to spend a day with you continues to exercise my talents so usefully. Forced to flee, Robin shoots some arrows in self-defence at his attackers. Robin serves as a king's forester in Sherwood forest and fletches arrows to But when I picked it up again for the first time in a couple of decades to refamiliarize myself with it before writing this review, it was difficult not to get lost in the pages of this book. Without thinking, Robin shoots at arrow at Tom Moody's leg, but it instead hits his heart and kills him. WebRobin never had to tell anyone of his meeting, weaponless and with an armful of dead branches to break up for firewood, with one of Guy's men. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. His father had taught him to shoot; he had also taught him to make and fletch his own arrows. Language: English. She demonstrates it here in The Outlaws of Sherwood as she has in so many other tales. He and Marian talk, and for the first time, he tells her he loves her. WebYou know it is going to hurt quite a lot in a minute.. It deliberately deconstructs the figures and setting, trying for historical accuracy and psychological plausibility, as well as unusual attention paid to the matter of privies. Author Robin McKinley has the rarest writers gift. Maid Marion is a dream for our more feisty modern day women. Besides, you know I can't shoot a pig's sneeze.". to read read. Already a member? After an 18-year-old Robin Hood accidentally kills a stranger to avenge his father, he runs off into the Sherwood Forest to begin life as an outlaw. When Tord congratulates Berg for performing such a heroic deed in the service of a beautiful woman, Berg explains Christianity and the concept of sin. WebThe Outlaws of Sherwood Robin McKinley. This change is a sign of McKinley's love of "ordinary heroes". are 1 Short Summary and 3 Book Reviews. Robin Longbow, a lowly apprentice to the forester of Nottingham Forest, is on the way to Nottingham fair when he is waylaid by bullies. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? There were some people, he thought, who not only could shoot accuratelyif the breeze hadn't disturbed it, that last arrow would have flown truebut seemed to know when and where to expect small vagrant breezes, and to allow for them. publication in traditional print. WebSummary. Kirkus Reviews tend to be brief, only two or three paragraphs long. Robin plans to run away, but Marian and Much, the millers son, find him and eventually convince a deeply reluctant Robin that forming a band of free men in Sherwood Forest is a better idea. Offers quick summary / overview and other basic information submitted by Wikipedia contributors who considers themselves "experts" in the topic at hand. Mostly he sold the ones he found time to make; he had some slight local fame as a fletcher. Language: English. The outlaws make enemies of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the sheriff hires a bounty hunter named Guy of Gisbourne to eliminate Robin and his outlaw band. 6 likes. Robin decides to learn how to use his fathers longbow (an unusual type of bow at this time in history) and trains others in his band to make and use them as well, giving them an advantage over the sheriffs men. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original Like the original Robin Hood tales. Disneys latest animated hit, Frozen, offers eye-popping animation, but the plot will be familiar to anyone who knows their fairytalesits based on Hans Christian Andersons 1845 story The Snow Queen (though theres no pop culturesavvy snowman in the originalsorry). They convince Robin to gather and lead a band of ragtag Saxon rebels against their enemies. Robin has led a downtrodden life since his father, a far more gifted archer than Robin himself, died under rather suspicious circumstances. There had been little enough time for the three of them to be together in the last months; but the fair was going to make up for all that. Format: Not specified. WebThe author retells the adventures of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws who live in Sherwood Forest in twelfth-century England Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Though Sir Richard is grateful, Robins worries increase because he realizes the sheriff of Nottingham has even greater cause to hate him because Robin made him appear foolish. Somberly, Tord announces to the villagers that whereas Berg killed a monk for Unn, he has killed Berg for justice; he asks that they communicate this news to Unn. Buy The Outlaws of Sherwood on Amazon.com 6 likes. Much of the spirit, the emotional heart, of Robin's legend (within the book) comes from Marian. The ending of The Outlaws of Sherwood was unsettling (view this spoiler if you like: As a reward for excellent service, King Richard allows the outlaws to go fight with him in the Crusades . But his love of gold invariably won over even his love of pomp and ceremony; and while the sheriff said aloud that he was not willing to lay on a tourney that the best would not attendfor petty, illogical reasons that Nottingham need not concern itself withthe truth of it was that he was not willing to lay on a tourney that would end up costing him a great deal of money. On a fishing expedition, they travel to a swampy lake high in the mountains, where steep walls of rock encircle the water, from whose surface pine roots emerge like snakes. Robin McKinley, quote from The Outlaws of Sherwood. Even if Bill Sharp was not there, he was always at his worst with a lot of people watching him. 2021-09-02 06:10:54. It shivered in its flight, and fell, a little off coursejust enough that the arrow missed the slender tree it was aimed at, and struck tiredly and low into the bole of another tree, twenty paces beyond the mark. WebThe author retells the adventures of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws who live in Sherwood Forest in twelfth-century England Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Addeddate. This experience causes Tord to run to the valley, where he reveals Bergs hiding place to the villagers. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our. Your email address will not be published. Without thinking, Robin returns fire and kills someone. "The Heirs/Errors of "Ivanhoe": Robin Hood in Pre- and Post-Modern Fiction",. Robin Longbow, a lowly apprentice to the forester of Nottingham Forest, is on the way to Nottingham fair when he is waylaid by bullies. The Newbery Medal-winning author of The Hero and the Crown brings the Robin Hood legend to vivid life. Interestingly, Robin himself is more of a beta hero in this story as far from the Errol Flynn mold as can be imagined and initially hes more driven by events that happen to him than affirmatively taking action himself. to read read. During their stay, Little John and Cecily profess their love for one another, and the outlaws begin to recover from their wounds. And there was no point in speculatingwhich everyone then immediately didwhom the king might in such a case assign the estates to. currently reading. some nice twists on the classic legend. I kept having to say to my mom 'it's not bad, but, I don't know' To be honest, I do know that a part of my dissatisfaction with this book was that I'd just finished the King Raven trilogy and comparatively this one does fall a little flat as a Robin Hood retelling. In one of the most iconic adventures, Robin disguises himself, competes in an archery tournament hosted by the Sheriff, and wins by shooting a perfect bullseye. Robin had contrived to finish off another couple dozen arrows since Nobble had called out his name a fortnight ago, working late into the evenings at great expense of sleep and strengthand of eyesight, crouched over one flickering candle till his head ached so badly that he saw twenty fingers and forty arrows. But Robins friends Much and Marian see Robins exile as an opportunity to strike back at the regent and his Norman allies. In the classic legend, Robin Hood is a superlative archer. But Much and Marian convince him that perhaps his personal catastrophe is also an opportunity: an opportunity for a few stubborn Saxons to gather together in the secret heart of Sherwood Forest and strike back against the arrogance and injustice of the Norman overlords. Please try again. Have you permission to go to the fair?". However, Little John and Cecily realize that the man is actually Marian in disguise. The ending really bothered me when I first read the book in 1989, but less so now. Sir Richard was unusual in that he permitted himself, a knight, to be interested in this commoner's sport. Publisher: Not specified. Log in here. Robin hides from the vengeful Sheriff of Nottingham in Sherwood Forest. Robin tells her he loves her and asks her to marry him. ", Robin said teasingly, "I will tell you what you already know only if you promise that you will not run off with a band of wandering players.". PublishersWeekly - The Outlaws of Sherwood. And finally, Robin wonders what will happen when the long-absent King Richard returns to Sherwood. An archery contest ensues between Robin and one of the foresters, Tom Moody, and Robin miraculously wins. Robin McKinley. McKinley gives much attention to the others in Robin's band of Merry Men and Women (for McKinley has added several female characters). fiction fantasy historical young adult adventurous mysterious slow-paced. But Much and Marian convince him that perhaps his personal catastrophe is also an opportunity: an opportunity for a few stubborn Saxons to gather together in the secret heart of Sherwood Forest and strike back against the arrogance and injustice of the Norman overlords. I didn't like the denouement and judgement of the Sherwood Forest outlaws engendered by Richard The LionHeart. True to form, her Robin is not the typical Robin of legend. Each man survives in the wilderness by fishing, hunting, and gathering. Please try again. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The Outlaws of Sherwood is a very appropriate title for this book.