Customer Reviews

Robin Hood (Scribner Storybook Classics)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is a time of crisis in England. With the good King Henry dead and the rightful ruler, unknowing Richard, fighting in the Crusades, the evil Prince John seizes the throne. Interested only in making himself richer, and having no consideration for the poor and middle class people, he becomes a tyrant respected by the haughty rich (few), and hated by the commoners (many). Young Robin of Locksley, son of the Ranger of Locksley, has his lands taken from him by force after the Ranger dies. Robin, cast out with no home, joins an outlaw gang dedicated to helping the poor. How Robin - who laters becomes head of the gang - defends the gang, helps the poor, and wins a name for himself throughout England as "Robin Hood", makes this book the magical story it is.

In your youth , this was the edition that send you to another time and place . N.C.Wyeth's art is without equal . Each plate pulls the reader deeper into the text. What more could one ask of a book ; a fun read, classic literature, and fine art. I am most thankful that it is again available for my grandkids .

My five-year old and I love the Wyeth illustrations and the stories which surround them. She is a big Robin Hood fan and we're always trying out 'new versions' (her words) of the classic tales. This is one of the winners, for accessible prose, short chapters and, of course, the beautiful paintings.

And yet ... this version has an incredibly surprising and annoying error of historical fact which bothers me to no end (hence the rating). In the preface, Creswick sets up the plot: it's 1190, and Prince Richard, waiting for his dad to die, goes off on crusade. The competition between John and RIchard is thus presented as 'which one will succeed to their father, King Henry II'? All well and good (and my daughter doesn't care), except that it's totally bogus history. Henry II died in 1187 and Richard had been king for several years before setting off on crusade. John's crime was (perhaps, although not proven historically) in seeking to overthrow a crowned king (not to compete with a brother for the succession). Some may consider this gripe to be small beer (and indeed, as I've said, my daughter doesn't care - although I always read 'king' for 'prince' RIchard when I read it), but it drives me crazy. Why mess around with fact? Either Creswick was too lazy to get it right, or decided that the past wasn't exciting enough and would thus improve on it. Either way it is pretty annoying. [Note: I am no fanatic for historical accuracy, and I am well aware that the Robin Hood stories as we know them are mostly fictional anyway - it's just that there is no good reason to depart from the historical record here]

This purchase was intended for my five year-old nephew for Christmas. While this edition does contain the NC Wyeth color plates, the book itself is "based on" Creswick's and is definitely not the Robin Hood I remember checking out (over and over) from the local library when I was a kid. Admittedly, this edition, more of an over-sized children's story book, is probably more age appropriate for my nephew. I'm still going to give him the book, but I'm saving it for his birthday. Still looking for the REAL Creswick Robin Hood!

I forgot so many of the details of this story, and was thrilled to read this account of Robin Hood. I totally enjoyed the cat-and-mouse games he played with the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the wonderful camaraderie of the men of Sherwood Forest. Great story, well written. (Forgive the sections where the book page appears in the middle of sentences - it's not that annoying and does not slow down the narrative.)

Pyle's version has nothing on Creswick's. Took me a while to get into this book, but after page 40 I didn't stop reading till I finished it. Includes all the old tales and merry men. The epilogue is a little sad, but overall, this book is one of my favorites.