Merry Adventures of Robin Hood: Less-Romantic Version of the Legend?

One can safely assume that everybody in England knows this man, at least by name. Robin Hood is an old legend, a legend that has been told in various ballads, stories, and films for almost a thousand years. His name conveys the idea of merry life, kindness, and heroic actions. And yet, none can be sure how much is true from the countless tales that often contradict each another.

This book is not the first of Robin Hood's short stories collection that I read, but even by reading the first chapter, I could clearly see the differences between legends of the bold outlaw. Robin was a youth who hid in the forest after killing one of the king's archer, the story says. There he lived for a long time with a band of his merry men, all clad in Lincoln green, happily and joyfully, without fear or dread. As the time passed, Robin met and befriended many stout and brave people such as Little John, Will Scarlet, Allan a Dale, who willingly shared an outlaw's life with him.

People loved him for many good deeds that he had done, albeit the means were not so honest. He made sure that no want occur in the winter for the poor, by giving them what they needed from the spoils he took from any rich man or bishop who dared to pass Sherwood. He's bold and just in his own ways. He reign his men in such a way that they loved him dearly, that they would rather die than betray him.

I can't help but noticing one thing in this book: no love story between him and Maid Marian. It is mentioned that he loved her, but Marian never came to the forest, nor met Robin in all the stories compiled in the book. Honestly, I miss her. Maid Marian was said to be a good archer herself, and good with sword as well.

They say that there are hundreds of ballads and tales about him and his merry men. So I imagine the writer has done his best in choosing which to mention and which to leave. I must say that this version is not my favourite, but it contains stories that are new to me, so it complements my old knowledge of this archer. I will close this review with an excerpt from the book: a writing they put on brave Robin's grave:

HEAR UNDERNEAD DIS LAITL STEAN LAIS ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTUN NEA ARCIR VER AS HIE SAE GEUD AN PIPL KAULD IM ROBIN HEUD SICK UTLAWS AS HI AN IS MEN VIL ENGLAND NIDIR SI AGEN OBIIT 24 KAL. DEKEMBRIS 1247. 

(Here underneath this little stone

Lies Robert Earl of Huntingdon

No archer was as he so good

And people called him Robin Hood

Such outlaws as he and his men

Will England never see again

8 November 1247)