aka Richard Carpenter’s Robin of Sherwood : The Hooded Man.
This is the novelization of the start of season 3 of that wonderful 80s tv show, Robin of Sherwood. I loved that show, so I am unable to review this book objectively. Anything that brings me back to that world is only a good thing in my opinion.
I really enjoy this take on the Robin Hood legend, because in most versions the tale is a story of rich against poor, with Robin on the side of goodness and justice, obviously. But the tv show, and this book can actually be read as books about colonisation. Saxon England has been conquered by the Normans, now they are the ones with the power and the money, bringing their own rules and laws. They have colonised England1 and the Saxons have to fight to survive in their own country.
Their own native religions and practices, long under threat from the various conversions to Christianity are put under more pressure because the Church backs the Normans, and the Normans back the Church. Older gods, such as Herne the Hunter, are being forced out. But in the world of Robin of Sherwwod he still lives and still has power.
The book itself is probably a little over-written in places, but it was very enjoyable. It is a quick and easy read, and if anyone out there enjoyed the show from the eighties then I’d highly recommend you give this a go. Horowitz knows his job and does it well. Two thumbs up.
Nothing’s forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten.
the more history I read, the more I realise that power really is the biggest evil out there ↩
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