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RECOMMENDED
READING AND VIEWING
Want to learn
about Robin Hood offline? Here's a list of some of
the best Robin Hood books, movies, television shows and
music albums. It is not meant to be a complete list, and by
visiting other parts of my site, you'll learn about other Robin Hood
books and movies.
Many
of the books and films listed here are available on Amazon.com
and (for UK visitors) Amazon.co.uk. I've offered links
to those sites where you can order the products. (With
Amazon providing a small referral fee to your humble webmaster.)
When ordering DVD and VHS tapes, please make sure that they will play
on your machine. European videos and DVDs generally do not play in North
American machines, and North American videos and DVDs usually don't work in
European machines.
Do
you have any suggestions for this list? Please e-mail me at
puck@boldoutlaw.com. Or post about your
favourite Robin Hood books and movies on The Blue
Boar Inn, my Robin Hood message board.
Scholarly Books
and Ballad Collections
Robin
Hood: A Complete Study of the English Outlaw by Stephen Knight.
Blackwell: Oxford UK and Cambridge, USA, 1994. This
is the definitive book on the legend. It provides the
most comprehensive look at changes to the Robin Hood legend.
Knight doesn't believe in a real Robin Hood and he provides
valuable criticism about such a quest. An
interview with Professor Knight is available on my website.
The book is out of print, but he has a new book.
ROBIN HOOD: A MYTHIC BIOGRAPHY by
Stephen Knight. No, this still isn't a look at possible real life Robins.
Instead, it's the biography of a mythic character or rather four characters.
It divides Robin's legendary persona into four archetypes. This is largely
enjoyable, although given to a few overstatements -- particularly on the subject
of Robin's sexuality.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN
HOOD , revised edition by J. C. Holt. Thames and Hudson: London, 1989.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, this was considered
the definitive work on Robin Hood. Although it focuses
mainly on the medieval side of the legend, it's still worth
a look.
Buy it
on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
RYMES
OF ROBYN HOOD; AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGLISH OUTLAW
by R.B. Dobson and J. Taylor. Alan Sutton: Gloucester, UK,
1989. Originally published by Heinemann in 1976, this
is a classic collection of ballads and poems with a wonderful
historical introduction. A new edition was released in 1997
with an updated foreword.
Buy it on
Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN
HOOD : THE FORRESTERS MANUSCRIPT : BRITISH LIBRARY ADDITIONAL
MS 71158, edited by Stephen Knight. The manuscript
of this previously unpublished 17th century ballad collection
was discovered in a 1993 booksale -- a major find for Robin
Hood scholarship. Stephen Knight adds notes to all the ballads.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN
HOOD AND OTHER OUTLAW TALES edited by Stephen Knight
and Thomas Ohlgren. It's a whopping 700 pages filled with ballads,
plays, and historical background. Much of this book is
online at The Robin Hood
Project at the University of Rochester.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
MEDIEVAL
OUTLAWS: TWELVE TALES IN MODERN ENGLISH edited by Thomas H. Ohlgren. Robin
wasn't the only medieval outlaw. This book includes
translations of the outlaw adventures of Fulk Fitz Warin,
William (Braveheart) Wallace, Adam Bell and others, including
A Gest of Robyn Hode. (Updated from the earlier edition which only featured ten tales. The new cover, not pictured here, features a photo I took - the same one that forms the graphic in the top left corner of this page.)
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN HOOD
IN POPULAR CULTURE; VIOLENCE, TRANSGRESSION, AND CULTURE,
edited by Thomas Hahn. This book collects the papers from
the first International Conference for Robin Hood Studies,
held in 1997. I attended this conference, and can assure you
the volume will contain several excellent papers -- including
plenary addresses by Stephen Knight and Barrie Dobson, as well
as a very important paper by Thomas Ohlgren. The book covers Robin
Hood ballads, poems, novels, theatre, television, film and more.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
Classic Books
for Children
THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD OF GREAT RENOWN,
IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE by Howard Pyle. Perhaps the best
known Robin Hood's children book. It was first published
in 1883 and has never been out of print. The writing is wordy
and in a pseudo-medieval style, but Pyle's illustrations (and do
find an edition illustrated by Pyle) are superb. Some books claim
to be written by Pyle but use neither his text, nor his classic illustrations.
Oddly enough, the edition most readily available on Amazon.com
does not have a Pyle cover, although the illustrations are classic Pyle.
[The picture links to an edition on Amazon.co.uk.]
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
THE ADVENTURES
OF ROBIN HOOD by Roger Lancelyn Green. This classic
children's book from the 1950s incorporates Robin Hood stories
from ballads, plays and novels into series of rollicking tales.
Also, Maid Marian plays a much bigger part in this book than she
does in Pyle's book. (In Pyle, there are only two references to
Marian.)
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN HOOD: A CLASSIC ILLUSTRATED EDITION by
Evelyn Charles Vivian, compiled by Cooper Edens. Vivian's book was
once much reprinted, but has now been largely forgotten. Those
who do read it will be amazed at how much was recycled in the Robin
of Sherwood TV series (including the names Robert and Hugo de Rainault,
a villainous "Belame", attacks made with beehives and swords on a string,
and much more). This gorgeous edition from Chronicle Books is
illustrated with art from woodcuts, centuries' worth of Robin Hood book
illustrations, comic book art (the cover art is from the 1950s Classics
Illustrated comic book), shoe advertisements and more. It's worth it for
the art alone.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
THE
OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD by Robin McKinley. A retelling of
the Robin Hood stories for both young adults and grown ups. It has
some nice twists on the classic legend. For example Robin Hood is
the worst archer of the Merry Men. It also features strongly
devolped female characters.
Buy
it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
THE FORESTWIFE
by Theresa Tomlinson. A young adult book that has
a feminist take on the Robin Hood legend, focusing on a young Maid
Marian who learns magical healing powers.
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk Buy it on Amazon.com
CHILD OF
THE MAY by Theresa Tomlinson. The first sequel to The Forestwife
takes place many years later and features Little John's daughter Magda in
the central role.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
THE PATH
OF THE SHE-WOLF by Theresa Tomlinson. Available in the UK only, this
is the final book in the Forestwife triology -- with the final fate of Marian
and the Hooded Man. Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
THE FORESTWIFE
TRILOGY by Theresa Tomlinson. Available in the UK only, this collects
all three Forestwife books (slightly revised) into one big edition. And hey,
my website is mentioned in the afterword. Thanks, Theresa. Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
SHERWOOD
and ROBIN AND THE KING by Parke Godwin. Two adult novels that
radically rework the Robin Hood legend by setting it
over a century earlier than usual. These books chronicle
a fight for freedom in William the Conqueror's England. They
also feature a very complex, interesting and sympathetic Sheriff
of Nottingham.
Buy Sherwood on Amazon.com
Buy Robin and
the King on Amazon.com
Buy
Sherwood on Amazon.co.uk
Buy
Robin and the King on Amazon.co.uk
THE
SHERWOOD GAME by Esther Friesner. A science fiction novel where
Robin Hood and his Merry Men are smart, self-aware computer programs
that are given artificial bodies and set loose in the future.
A fun and interesting twist on the legend.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEASTS OF SHERWOOD by Clayton
Emery (formerly published as The Tales of Robin Hood). New adventures
of Robin Hood, with much use of magic and English folklore.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
Please make
sure that if you order videos or DVDs that they will play in the machines
of your country. I have links to both North American and European formats.
North American DVDs and videos do not generally play in European machines.
And vice-versa. Please be careful when ordering.
The Adventures
of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.
For over 60 years this superb technicolor movie has been considered the
definitive Robin Hood film. It's exciting and witty with a wonderful
group of actors. The legend brought to life. At long last, this classic
has been released on DVD in a special two-disc set with a tonne of features,
including footage of the filming, a commentary track by film historian
Rudy Behlmer and the cartoons "Rabbit Hood" with Bugs Bunny and "Robin Hood
Daffy" with Daffy Duck. And the film itself has been digitally restored to
its technicolor glory.
Buy
the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
Buy
the European DVD (Region 2) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy the VHS (North American format) on Amazon.com
Buy
the VHS (PAL -- European format) on Amazon.co.uk
Robin and
Marian starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn.
A dark contrast to the Flynn film. Connery plays an older Robin
Hood back from the Crusades, in many ways a Vietnam metaphor.
Smart and sad, but with a fair bit of wit too.
Buy the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
Buy the VHS (North American format) on Amazon.com
Buy
the Region 2 [Europe, not for North American players] DVD on Amazon.co.uk
Robin Hood
starring Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman. This was
made at the same time as the Kevin Costner film, but was released
on television in North America with little fanfare. It's the
better Robin Hood movie of 1991, and has the look and feel of
early ballads. J.C. Holt served as a historical advisor on
the film. (Regrettably, the video release is shorter than the
version that played on TV.)
Buy
the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
Buy the VHS (North American format) on Amazon.com
Robin Hood: Men in Tights starring Cary Elwes.
It's the second, and better-known, attempt at a Robin Hood parody from Mel Brooks. It's supposed to be a parody of Prince of Thieves, but it also parodies the 1938 Errol Flynn film as well. It tickles some people's funny bones, and Richard Lewis makes a fun Prince John.
Buy the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
Buy the VHS (North American format) on Amazon.com
Buy
the Region 2 [Europe, not for North American players] DVD on Amazon.co.uk
The Adventures
of Robin Hood starring Richard Greene. This classic 1950s
black-and-white television series is available in various video
editions, including a recently released boxed set. Clever plots (often based on real
medieval laws) and charm make this show rise about the time and budget
constraints of old-time television. The entire series is available by season in DVD boxed sets for British/European players. (They are supposed to be Region 0 PAL, not Region 2. In theory, some North American players - particularly DVD-ROMS - could play them. In theory. My copies of Series 1 and 4 play perfectly on my North American machine {JVC) which can handle PAL. However, there were production errors with series 2 and 3, and they are Region 2, not Region 0 as advertised. Network launched an investigation into the matter, but it would be too costly for them to correct the flaw. Very few would want DVDs that are PAL but not Region 2, although unfortunately I am one of those people.) In North America, many episodes have been released on low-budget DVD labels. Finally, season sets are coming to North America.
NEW!!! - Buy
The Complete First Season DVD (Region 1, NTSC for North America) on Amazon.com
Buy
The Complete First Season DVD (Region 0 PAL, only for European players --
not for North America) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy
The Complete Second Season DVD (Region 2 PAL, only for European players --
not for North America) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy
The Complete Third Season DVD (Region 2 PAL, only for European players --
not for North America) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy
The Complete Fourth Season DVD (Region 0 PAL, only for European players --
not for North America) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy The Adventures of Robin Hood Classic TV Series Vol. 1 (Region 1 for North America) DVD by Alpha Video/Gotham Distribution {Contains: "The Coming of Robin Hood", "The Borrowed Baby", "The Final Tax" and "The Ambush") on Amazon.com
Buy The Adventures of Robin Hood Classic TV Series Vol. 2 (Region 1 for North America) DVD by Alpha Video/Gotham Distribution {Contains: "The Little People", "The Goldmaker's Return", "Flight from France" and "The York Treasure") on Amazon.com
Buy The Adventures of Robin Hood Classic TV Series Vol. 3 (Region 1 for North America) DVD by Alpha Video/Gotham Distribution set on (Contains: "The Brothers", "The Intruders", "Food for Thought" and "The Deserted Castle") Amazon.com
Buy the 7-Volume VHS (North American format) Boxed Set on Amazon.com
Buy
Volume 1 of the new PAL (European format) VHS on Amazon.co.uk
The Legend of Robin Hood starring Martin Potter and Diane Keen.
An online petition helped get this 1975 BBC television mini-series onto DVD. Unfortunately, it's only available on the British Region 2 format.
Buy
the Region 2 [Europe, not for North American players] DVD on Amazon.co.uk
Robin of Sherwood
starring Michael Praed and Jason Connery (known as Robin Hood in North America).
This 1980s British series is one of the most innovative filmed versions of
Robin Hood ever. Robin of Loxley serves Herne the Hunter, a forest god, until
he is killed in battle and replaced by Robert of Huntingdon. Great cast,
wonderful writing, and a haunting Celtic soundtrack by Clannad. This series
influenced many later versions of the Robin Hood legend. It also introduced
the concept of an Arab Merry Man.
In the
Europe, Network Video has released the series on both
video and DVD. Both the VHS tapes and DVDs are recorded in
PAL format which cannot be viewed on most North American DVD players
or VCRs. However, the DVDs are "Region 0" and so if you have
a player capable of playing PAL format (some models of Apex, Sampo and JVC
as well as many DVD-ROMs), then you don't have to worry about the Region
code differences. Network did produce a limited run of VHS tapes in NTSC
North American video format, but now those can only be found on places
like Ebay. In 2007, Acorn Media released the series for Region 1, North America with nearly all the same special features as the UK versions.
Robin of Sherwood: Set One. This North American release contains all the Michael Praed episodes and most of the special features found on the European releases.
Buy
the North American DVD (Region 1, NTSC) on Amazon.com
Robin of Sherwood: Set Two. This North American release contains all the Jason Connery episodes and most of the special features found on the European releases.
Buy
the North American DVD (Region 1, NTSC) on Amazon.com
Buy Robin
of Sherwood on PAL-format DVD (Not Playable on most North American
DVD players) on Amazon.co.uk. The DVDs include special features like documentaries, blooper reels and commentary tracks with the writers, directors and (on episodes from the 3rd series) cast.
Robin
Of Sherwood: The Complete Series PAL DVD This boxed set features all 26 episodes from the three seasons and includes a bonus disc.
Robin
Of Sherwood - The Complete Series 1 PAL DVD
Robin
Of Sherwood - The Complete Series 2 PAL DVD
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Part 1 PAL DVD
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Part 2 PAL DVD
Buy the following PAL VHS (Europe, not playable on
most North American VCRs) tapes on Amazon.co.uk
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 1 - Episodes 1 to 3
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 1 - Episodes 4 to 6
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 2 - Episodes 1 to 4
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 2 - Episodes 5 to 7
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Episodes 1 to 3
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Episodes 4 to 6
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Episodes 7 to 10
Robin
Of Sherwood - Series 3 - Episodes 7 to 13
In North America, four two-hour episodes have
been released on VHS by Playhouse Video. This series, called "Robin
Hood ... the Legend", features the episodes "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer",
"The Swords of Wayland", "Herne's Son" and "The Time of the Wolf".
However, these tapes have been discontinued.
Buy Robin Hood and the Sorcerer on North American format VHS on
Amazon.com
Buy The Swords of Wayland on North American format VHS on Amazon.com
Buy Herne's Son on North American format VHS on Amazon.com
Buy
The Time of the Wolf on North American format VHS on Amazon.com
Maid Marian and Her Merry Men starring Kate Lonergan as a smart, feminist Maid Marian and Wayne Morris as the hapless Robin. This BBC comedy series was written by Tony Robinson (from Blackadder and Time Team), who also played the Sheriff of Nottingham. It is not yet available on North American DVD.
Series 1 on
Region 2 [Europe, not for North American players] DVD from Amazon.co.uk
Series 2 on
Region 2 [Europe, not for North American players] DVD from Amazon.co.uk
Rocket Robin Hood is coming to DVD. For those of you who didn't grow up in Canada, this 1960s animated series featured the adventures of Robin's 30th Century descendant and his intrepid band based on Sherwood Asteroid. An early episode features a time-travelling team-up with the original Robin. Later episodes are bizarre and produced by Ralph Bakshi (some episodes were recycled into his Spider-Man series). The San Diego Comic Con often shows episodes in their Worst Cartoons Ever panel. Buy them on Amazon.ca.
Rocket Robin Hood V1 Ep.1-26 and Rocket Robin Hood V2 Ep.26-52
Legend by Clannad. The soundtrack
from the Robin of Sherwood TV series. This music by
one of Ireland's finest bands won a BAFTA award. It's
mystical Celtic music with a touch of rock.
Buy it on Amazon.com Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
The Adventures
of Robin Hood by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. This is the
Oscar-winning music from the 1938 movie starring Errol
Flynn. A classic Hollywood score.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
Robin
Hood Country. A collection of Robin Hood music from
the Korngold score and other sources.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
Under the
Greenwood Tree. Part of the Early Music collection
by Naxos. This budget label offers a collection of greenwood
music from centuries past, including several Robin Hood ballads.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy
it on Amazon.co.uk
A Little
Gest of Robin Hood by Bob Frank. Bob's lively translation of
one of the earliest Robin Hood ballads. Although it's recorded in a thoroughly
American "talking blues" style, Bob has captured the humour and spirit
of the original ballad. The Robin Hood ballads were meant to entertain
people -- here's someone who gets that. It's available on his website
www.bobfranksongs.com
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