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Bibliographies

Robin Hood


Cindy Title Moore

My criterion for these books is that it be concerned with the Robin Hood legend in some way.I have three categories here: novelizations (fiction), poetry, and non-fiction (eg, studies and research).There are a good number of research and old-manuscript references listed here that are probably unavailable except through a University-level library.I have split the books up into the following categories:

  • Medieval fiction: often published at any point in time, but discussing texts from this period.I've arbitrarily put everything pre 1600 in this section, although I realize this isn't the "medieval" period.
  • Fiction (1600-1899): involves any fiction published during this time.If I have an 18th century commentary on a 15th century work, that goes here. (If it's a 18th century republication of something from prior to 1600, let me know and I will move it to the above category.)
  • Fiction (1900-present): includes all fictionalized accounts published in this century.
  • Poetry: includes all poetic versions of the Robin Hood legend, regardless of when (first) published or written.
  • Non-fiction and research: includes analyses of the Robin Hood legend: how it started, what purpose it filled, etc. Some of the texts that republish old work but include an analysis may have been mistakenly filed in one of the fiction categories above; let me know if this is the case.
I encourage you to send in any comments you have on a particular book for inclusion.I'd like to be able to give a sense of what the book offers.In addition, if you have references to books on Robin Hood that are *not* listed here, please send them to me for inclusion.

Disclaimer: I have not vouched for the accuracy of each and every entry in this list.I would like also to indicate which books are no longer in print.If you find mistakes or have additional information on a reference, by all means, let me know.

Thanks to: Ann Carlson, Dean Clamons, Matthew Clark, Aaron C. Clarke, George T. Crafts, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, Roger Gardiner, George M. Jacobs, Michael Kelly, Larry Hammer, Tovah Hollander, Jane Lean, Duncan MacGregor, John G. Norman, Robert Oliver, Emma Pease, Tirza van Rijn, John C.Sluder, David Salley, Eric John Thiesen, and Elaine Thompson for their contributions.

Changes are indicated with |'s.

Table of Contents:

    • 1.Fiction (medieval)
    • 2.Fiction (1600-1899)
    • 3.Fiction (1900-present)
    • 4.Poetry
    • 5.Non-fiction and research
  • 1. Fiction (medieval)
    • _The gallant achievements of Robin Hood : The famous history of Fryer Bacon: the romance of Robert the Devil_ (Edinburgh : O. Schulze, [1904?]).Early English prose romances.
    • Childe, Francis._Ballads of England and Scotland_. Childe collected a number of pre 1600 ballads, including ones about Robin Hood, into this volume in the mid 1800's.He used earlier collections for his sources.
    • Clawson, William Hall, _The gest of Robin Hood_ (University of Toronto library, 1909).
    • Gutch, John Mathew, ed., _A Lytell geste of Robyn Hode and his meiny_ (Reprinted from the edition edited by John Mathew Gutch, following the Wynken de Worde and William Copland texts, by Edwin and Robert Grabhorn for the Westgate Press ;...San Francisco, [1932], 1847).
  • 2. Fiction (1600-1899)
    • _The Adventures of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, commonly called Robin Hood, the famous English archer : being a complete history of all the merry adventures and valiant battles_ (Baltimore [Md.] : Printed and sold by William Warner, 1812).
    • _The History of Robin Hood.A new and correct edition_.(London : Printed for the Booksellers, 1816).Juvenile.
    • Dumas, Alexandre, Robin des bois.(Paris, Editions Baudelaire [1966]).Translations available.
    • Egan, Pierce (the Younger), _Robin Hood and Little John : or, The merry men of Sherwood forest_ (London: Foster and Hextall, 1840).
    • Marsh, John B., _The life and adventures of Robin Hood_ (London, New York, G. Routledge and sons [1865?]).
    • Mills, Alfred, _Sherwood Forest, or, Robin Hood and Little John_ (London : Published by E. Wallis ..., [ca. 1825]).
    • M. P. (Martin Parker), _A true tale of Robin Hood, or, A brief touch of the life and death of that renowned outlaw, Robert, Earl of Huntington, vulgarly called Robin Hood : who lived and dyed in A.D. 1198, being the 9th year of the reign..._([London] : Printed for J. Clark, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger, 1686).
    • Muddock, J.E._Maid Marian and Robin Hood: A Romance of Old Sherwood Forest_ With 12 illustrations by Stanley L. Wood Philadelphia: J.B.Lippincott Company 1894.
    • Pyle, Howard, _The merry adventures of Robin Hood : of great renown in Nottinghamshire_ (New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1884, many reprints).This is a classic rendition, most often recommended to readers.A little "old fashioned" in its phrasing, it has a style and flair all its own.
    • Southey, Robert and Caroline Southey, _Robin Hood : a fragment_ London : Edinburgh : William Blackwood, 1847).
    • Peacock, Thomas Love, _Maid Marian_ (London : T. Hookham, 1822, reprinted).
    • Scott, Sir Walter, _Ivanhoe_.Robin Hood appears as a minor character in this work.
    • Seawell, Molly Elliot, _Maid Marian and other stories_ (New York : Appleton, 1891).
    • Waldron, F. G. (Francis Godolphin), ed., _The sad shepherd, or, A tale of Robin Hood : a fragment_ (London : Printed for J. Nichols ... and sold by C. Dilly, 1783).With a continuation, notes, and an appendix.
  • 3. Fiction (1900-present)
    • Bowman, Anne,_The boy foresters : a tale of the days of Robin Hood_ (London ; New York : G. Routledge, [1905]).Juvenile fiction.
    • Brown, Alice, _Robin Hood's barn.(New York, Macmillan, 1913).
    • Bulfinch, Thomas, _The age of chivalry ; or, Legends of King Arthur_ (many editions).
    • Carpenter, Richard, _Robin of Sherwood_, (Puffin Books. 1984. ISBN 0-14-031690-6);
    • Carpenter, Richard and Robin May, _Robin of Sherwood and the Hounds of Lucifer_, (Puffin Books. 1985. ISBN 0-14-031869-0);
    • Carpenter, Richard and Anthony Horowitz, _Robin of Sherwood: The Hooded Man_, (Puffin Books. 1986. ISBN 0-14-032058-X);
    • Carpenter, Richard, _Robin of Sherwood: The Time of the Wolf_, (Puffin Books. 1988. ISBN 0-14-032660-X).
    • These four books are also collected in one volume, the omnibus: Carpenter, Richard, with Robin May and Anthony Horowitz, _The Complete Adventures of Robin of Sherwood_, (Puffin Books. 1990. ISBN 0-14-034450-0). The books to the marvellous Robin of Sherwood TV series. 'A magical retelling of the legend of Robin Hood'. Well written, great characters, gives a good impression of what it must have been like in mediaeval times, the mysticism and sorcery fits in, great sense of humour.
    • Chase, Nicholas._Locksley_.St. Martins/Marek, New York.1983. ISBN 0-312-49428-9. A highly improbable and highly entertaining retelling of the legend as it "might have actually happened."Good reading.
    • Creswick, Paul.N.C. Wyeth, illustrator._Robin Hood_.Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.Reprint.Original copyright 1917, Wyeth, 1957. 1984.ISBN 0-684-18162-2. The illustrations alone make this book worth getting.A nicely told version of the Robin Hood legend.
    • Doherty, P. C._The Assassin in the Greenwood_ (1993?), is a telling of the death of Robin Hood, and how an "under-sheriff" of Nottingham masqueraded as Robin to discredit him.The book is interesting in that it has a brief afterword by the author. In it, he claims that Robin was not a contemporary of Richard I (and John), but of Edward I. He suggests that Robin was a supporter of Simon de Montfort's revolt against the king in the mid-13th century and fled to Sherwood forest after the revolt failed.The plot is not that great, but the setting is well-rendered (including the tendency to violence that was said to be common in those days).
    • Emery, Clayton, _Tales of Robin Hood_ (New York : Baen Pub Enterprises; distributed by Simon & Schuster, 1988).
    • Finnemore, John, _The story of Robin Hood and his merry men_ (London, A. and C. Black, 1917).
    • Fraser, Antonia, _Robin Hood_ (Illustrated by Rebecca Fraser.[1st American ed.].New York, Knopf [c1971]).
    • Goldberg, Moses, _The outlaw Robin Hood_ (New Orleans : Anchorage Press, c1980).
    • Goldman, James, _Robin and Marian_ (New York, Bantam Books, 1976). The major portion of this book is Goldman's original screenplay for the movie , which starred Audrey Hepburn (Maid Marian), Sean Connery (Robin Hood), Robert Shaw (Sheriff of Nottingham), Nicol Williamson (Little John), and Richard Harris (King Richard).Also included in the volume are 3 short essays.'Where Have All the Heroes Gone?' laments the lack of heroes with High Principles and Noble Dreams, muses on heroes grown old--Ulysses, Ben Hogan, Fritz Kreisler--and sets up his premises/questions: What happened to Robin and Marian after they had grown old? (not doddering, but fifty-something), and Why do some of the versions of the myth have Marian killing Robin?.'What All the Singing Was About' gives some historical background on the Robin Hood myth and why it has survived some 700 years and still has the power to move us.'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Screenplays and Were Afraid to Ask" is his insider's view of writing the screenplay, selling it, and making the movie.
    • Godwin, Parke._Sherwood_.Avon Books, New York.1992.ISBN 0-380-70995-3._Robin and the King_, 1993. Excellent, well thought out story.Placed during the Norman invasion of 1066. Unusual depth of characterization, you get a real fe


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