Customer Reviews

The Outlaws of Sherwood

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've always loved the story of Robin Hood, and Robin McKinley was reccommended to me as an author I would like. So when I found her books in the library, I had to take "The Outlaws of Sherwood". This book lived up to it's expectations, and more! I liked the interesting twist how Robin wasn't the unusual more-than-human hero. He wasn't the overconfident, always-merry man that is so often portrayed. He couldn't even shoot that well! I liked the way all the characters where so human, and yet most (the outlaws anyway) were very likable. It was cool how Marian was actually the great archer, and that there was other women in the outlaws. (Sibyl, Eva, etc.) Will and Much provided some humor, and an arrogance that was actually likable, which is rare. Little John was the perfect large-yet-quiet faithful companion. King Richard was intriguing; I couldn't figure out if I liked him or not.

It was also interesting how during different times, the viewpoint switched around to many people. Of course it was still Robin's view through most of it, but frequently Friar Tuck too, and then towards the end it was often Cecil. (Which is interesting because you wouldn't have thought that character to be a main one) This book has everything; a familiar-yet-new story, adventure, romance, humor, good characters, evil villians, battles, great setting, (I love medieval times!) etc. I encourage anyone to read this!!

Robin McKinley is, perhaps, one of the best writers I have ever read, especially her books Outlaws of Sherwood and Beauty. In Outlaws of Sherwood, McKinley uses her clear and descriptive style to add a little reality to the Robin Hood legends. Instead of showing her readers a Robin who looks debonair and dashing while joking with his merry men, McKinley gives us a Robin who lives in the forest, is poor, sometimes afraid, and not constantly merry. This Robin even has trouble shooting a straight arrow! He is faulty, yet he is likable and compelling because the reader may see him/herself in his life and his decisions. The other characters in the book are also convincing, showing us a suprisingly different view of our Lady Marian along with a wonderful portrayel of Friar Tuck. McKinley uses the reality factor of life to spin a tale in which people really might have lived, yet she still captures all the fantastic elements of the Medieval times and pagentry, along with the humor, that the original legend possesses. Perhaps one of the best scenes in the entire novel is toward the end, when Guy of Gisbourne attacks the theives outside of Friar Tucks little church and hovel. The excitement of battle is mixed with such a concern for the characters that the reader really feels present among them, dodging blows from swords and the feathered shafts of arrows!

This was the first Mckinley Book that i had the good fortune to read. I was in the middle of a Robin Hood streek when i picked this up. I am very glad i read so many diffrent versions before Outlaws because Mckinley's book raised my expectations for old tales of heroism to olympic levels. Besides Marion being so cool without overcrowding Robin the main reason i liked this book is its multitude of characters with depth. Robin has a group of people surrounding him that you actually care if they are merry or not. His band are not mere cutouts of stock medevil charcters-friar peasent nobleman. Mckinley is able to tell a broad story without losing the focus of the tale that made robin famous. You will not want this story to end.

I will admit that it's wonderfully done and realistic, and for that it deserves more stars. But while I admire the craftsmanship and the beauty of this book, I am also a hopeless romantic and very affected by what I read, and so was dreadfully disappointed by the end. I think . . . though it was a fair and decent end, it could have been rendered . . . more hopeful. I was, all in all, quite distressed.

I really liked this retelling of Robin Hood. In this version Robin Hood isn't such a perfect, superior guy. He was a bit overly cautious and insecure. It was ironic how McKinley made Robin the worst archer of the group, I don't think any other author would have dared to do that, it is what Robin is famed for after all. I also liked how the bad side of the outlaw life was shown, like not having enough food and the paranoia about being caught. I loved the character of Marion and wished that there would have been more about her life, maybe McKinley could write a sequel starring Marion? I didn't care much for the ending though. I would rather they had been pardoned and allowed to live in England. Also, Richard the Lionheart wasn't that great of a guy, he killed almost a million muslims once because they wouldn't convert to christianity. Thankfully, McKinley doesn't turn him into a saintly, better-than-thou character, we are left rather unsure on how to feel about Richard. I also liked the romance between Cecil/Cecily and Little John and the mystery surrounding Cecil when he first joins the outlaws. My only complaint would be that it was much too short and a lot was left out from the legends. I like Beauty and Hero and the Crown better but The Outlaws of Sherwood is a great book too. I recommend it to anyone in search of a good read, be they adult or children. One other thing:Why is McKinleys books considered children books? They seem to be better written and more complex than a lot of adult books I could name. I suppose because there is no graphic sex or swearing(thank god)

First of all, I must say that I don't agree with the reading level above (definitely for ages 8-14, not 4-8). And then I have to agree with most other reviewers by saying "THIS BOOK IS AWESOME - YOU HAVE GOT TO READ IT!!!!!!!" The storyline is basically a retelling of Robin Hood. (that's sort of obvious after reading the title - Outlaws of Sherwood) Robin McKinley has all the characters I've heard of in all the Robin Hood stories I've read. I think. Anyway, there's Robin and Marian (duh) and the Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Will Scarlet, and King Richard and Prince John. And lots of others. I loved this book - so READ IT!

For people who read it already, and are reading this review in hopes of finding more Robin Hood books, you're in luck! More books-
The Forestwife, by Theresa Thomlinson (and sequel Child of the May)
and for adults, Lady of the Forest is an awesome Robin Hood story(but not for children)
There's not many good books (interesting ones) about Robin Hood.
But if you like Robin Hood, definately read The Outlaws of Sherwood. 8-)

Despite my knowing of Robin McKinley for a number of years and even thinking I was familiar with her books, The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988) is the first novel I have read by her. It was also my first encounter with a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood (aside from the Disney movie).

Set in the time of King Richard the Lionheart, this story starts with a young man named, unsurprisingly, Robin. A forester working in the King's Forest (Sherwood Forest to be exact) to keep the land holding he inherited when his father died, Robin is looking forward to the festivities and diversion sure to be offered by the Nottingham Fair.

But, like many of the arrows he notches without accounting for vagrant breezes, Robin's plans quickly go awry. By the end of the day a man is dead in Sherwood and Robin has a price on his head.

Left with no other options Robin is urged by his friends Marian and Much to go into hiding and serve as a rallying point for other like-minded Saxons who are chafing under the oppressive Norman rule, and unjust taxes, throughout England.

Robin resists this plan at every turn trying to be pragmatic and responsible for the people who come to trust his leadership. But, as the number of outlaws hiding in Sherwood grows, he soon finds that he has a new name and has moved from mere mortal to a legend named Robin Hood.

McKinley takes an interesting approach here writing not only about the legend of Robin Hood but of how it was born. If one can use such terms with a legend, I'd say that McKinley's interpretation is very realistic. As her narrative suggests all too clearly, Robin is just a man. He only becomes a legendary figure through the help of his friends and because the Saxons need him to be so.

It was also interesting that the events of the novel do not, in fact, always center on Robin Hood. As the title, The Outlaws of Sherwood, suggests McKinley provides a variety of perspectives in the novel using multiple viewpoints to convey complex events while also examining the motives that led each of the outlaws to Sherwood. While she is clearly very fond of the characters and the legend itself, it seems telling that one of McKinley's principle characters in terms of plot and narrative point of view is one who was never mentioned in the original tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. (It might also be telling that my two favorite characters were Little John and Cecil, but that's a different matter entirely.)

In a way, Robin Hood is often not the focus of the story although he is inevitably the driving force behind the novel. McKinley offers enough of Robin's perspective to convey his character--a perhaps less heroic version of the famous archer than some readers might expect. McKinley shows how Robin comes to terms with his new-found fame and protecting the people that come to him seeking a new life away from Norman rule. Keeping Robin Hood at a remove, if you will, from the narrative allows McKinley to present Robin her way while also showing--via other characters--how Robin's status grew from mere outlaw to legend as well as why that might have happened.

The writing here is intricate with long sentences, elaborate wording, and dialogue that looks more like prose on the page than a verbal exchange. In relation to this particular book, all of those things work to the author's favor helping her to create a prose style that feels very authentic in relation to the time period of the story. The style will, however, likely bother readers looking for a quick read.

There are many reasons to like The Outlaws of Sherwood. It has eminently likable characters, action, romance, suspense, and even humor. And yet, after finishing the book, my feelings are lukewarm. I found the ending so wholly unsatisfactory that I immediately set out to research how the original stories of Robin Hood ended. I was dismayed to find that compared to some legends (where he is killed!) Robin and his fellow outlaws actually get off quite easy here. Thus I am obliged to lay some of the blame with the legend itself, rather than merely at the author's feet. This knowledge only confirms my strong conviction that sometimes heroes really do just need to ride (or walk) off into the sunset. That was not the case in The Outlaws of Sherwood and I have to say I think the story was the worse for it.

After doing my own research into the myth and characters, I can say that McKinley was as true to the facts as possible. In her afterword, McKinley admits that she was more concerned with writing a book that was "historically unembarrassing" than completely accurate. Nonetheless, most of her characters* do appear in the original legends.

*The characters that appear in both The Outlaws of Sherwood and the original tales of Robin Hood: Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Much the Miller's Son, Little John, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, Alan-a-Dale, Sir Richard of the Lea, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and even Guy of Gisbourne.

Also, if you want to hear Ms. McKinley's view on why things had to end so horribly, I stumbled upon this interview while trolling around earlier.

As Robin McKinley hints in her Afterword, she has taken many elements associated with the Robin Hood legend to turn him into a hero for today-which makes him reluctant, pragmatic, and prosaic. As Marian tells him, "That's why we need you. You're a pessimist and a good planner." While McKinley states that she tried to be "historically unembarrassing," on occasion language fails her, as when one character mentions what Robin is "going through," as though they are stock characters in a daytime drama.

The Robin Hood Legend fascinates different people of different personalities, time periods, locations, and preferences for different reasons. For example, young boys may like the bravado of a fearless hero, while young girls may adore his courage and the romance implicit in the tale. Those who have felt oppressed (if only by an unlikable boss) may appreciate his initiative and his flouting of authority. To yet others, the outlaw band that steals from the rich and gives to the poor may serve as affirmation of justice in an unjust world. Others may simply enjoy the fantasy elements that many tales set in medieval times seem to have. For myself, I like the idea of an outdoor life, in the deep, truly untouched forest, away from the noise, crowding, stresses, and obligations of modern life.

That said, McKinley's Robin Hood is none of the above. He becomes an outlaw accidentally and outlaw leader and legend only through the persuasive skills and stubbornness of Marian and Much. Physically, he is average. He is a good fletcher, an average fighter, and a poor archer. While his followers (like the reader, drawn to a character who doesn't exist) boldly seek adventure and Norman purses, Robin is hesitant and fretful. He stays awake at night, watchful, worrying about practicalities such as feeding and sheltering the growing ban, ensuring their Greentree haven deep in the heart of Sherwood is protected, and seeing to it that there are enough privy holes dug for the group's needs. McKinley reduces Robin to what he really may have been at one time-a real human (or combination of humans) who, like a rock collects snow as it rolls downhill, has collected a variety of improbable elements as he passes through time. McKinley melts the snow until Robin could have been a real person-even if he was not. McKinley clearly feels this has appeal to modern sensibilities. She may be right, since this is a popular youth book. Perhaps, however, part of its popularity is due to the accessibility of its language to modern youth, for whom Pyle's work is stilted and awkward.

Unfortunately, McKinley manages to rush through her plot while making it drag. While she elaborates about why the Chief Forester hates Robin, which indirectly leads to his crime, McKinley provides no context for the Norman oppression of the Saxons; it suddenly appears as a reason for Robin to lead a band of outlaws, but is not supported other than through a few tales of high taxes and lost holdings. In other words, the reader feels the villainy of the Chief Forester, the sheriff, and other select Normans, but not the cruelty of the people as a whole-yet the outlaws are fixated upon it. The reader is never brought in emotionally. The sheriff's role is never defined; American readers will likely think he is simply a law enforcer rather than the king's administrator (shire-reeve). Although the sheriff "is a cruel and greedy fool and lout," it is never clear who appointed him-the absent and negligent Richard Lionheart or the Regent, vaguely alluded to a few times. It's also not clear where Lionheart is-fighting the Saracens in Palestine or, as mentioned at one point, imprisoned in Germany.

Meanwhile, the plot plods along, with effort expended to build up a sense of danger around Marian relationship with Beatrix (a relation?) that falls flat and abruptly disappears. A gratuitous romance is introduced between members of the band for no apparent reason. Halfway through the novel, the perspective shifts inexplicably from that of Robin, Marian, and Much to that of Little John and Cecil-a shift necessary in one or two chapters to move the plot, but which detracts from the investment the reader has made in Robin and Marian.

One wonders how McKinley chose names for some of the lesser outlaws-are they hers, or do they come from previous retellings? While some (Rafe, Cecil) are English, others (Eva and Simon-Hebrew, Humphrey and Matilda-German, Marjorie-Greek, Sibyl (Cybill)-Latin, and the male Jocelin-French (female!) have non-English origins, which seems unlikely, nor have I encountered them in my medieval readings. Like the continual feminist approach, the names are so out of place that they detract from the sense of realism-as do the many wounds that never turn gangrenous and are well on their way to healing within a week.

Most of all, The Outlaws of Sherwood lacks suspense, perhaps because the plot is weak and disjointed. McKinley wastes opportunities, as with Marian and Beatrix as well as Robin's uncertainty about the unknown Cecil. When Robin commits a crime particularly embarrassing to the sheriff, that official finally shows interest. After a climactic battle with Guy of Gisbourne told in anticlimactic detail (even Tuck feels time is endless) and a tedious focus on the weeklong aftermath (during which the sheriff is mysteriously absent), The Outlaws of Sherwood finally drags to an anticlimactic end, with Lionheart droning about fealty, the king's whim, reward, and punishment and doling out judgments. Despite the attempt to make Robin realistic, he and Sherwood are even less alive and less vibrant than in the improbably legend. If you are a Robin hood fan, as I am, by all means read The Outlaws of Sherwood; it has some interest, if only for the subject matter.

Diane L. Schirf, 9 April 2004.

The Outlaws of Sherwood is a wonderful book. I rate it a 5 out of 5. i think it might even be better than the Harry Potter series. I thought it might be hard for Robin to beat The Hero and the Crown but now she has really outdone herself. I think Robin Hood is my favorite legend and she has made him and is band of outlaws seem as if they were once living and breathing people fighting for justice against the cruel and selfish sheriff of Nottingham.I especialy liked how she made Maid Merrian a heroin. Robin Mckinnley has never forgotten to add a heroin to her stories. Thank you for all your wonderfully written stories.

This retelling of Robin Hood devels more deeply into the characters and their relationships with each other than into the famous exploits of Robin Hood. And, if that is what you are interested in, I found the characters to be engageing and likeable. Other than the books about Damar, this is my favorite book by robin mckinley and one of my favorite books of all time.