 
Welcome to Shadows Of Sherwood, a site devoted to the collected legends of Robin Hood.Who Robin Hood really was -- cutthroat, nobleman, hero, or forest diety -- is a mystery that will be speculated upon for eons to come. Some believe it is enough to have the legend; for as a legend, Robin Hood can be anyone, or anything, the imagination wishes him to be. For many, The Legend personifies Robin Hood as a figurehead of justice, a brave and kind protector of the oppressed; his adventures seasoned with humor, cleverness, and larger-than-life heroism; all wrapped up in a flamboyant and mystical medieval setting.
 What started out in the early Renaissance as random ballads and a few printed texts became inspiration for May Day festivities, numerous plays, even more ballads...and, eventually, scores and scores of books. By the late 19th century, Robin Hood had evolved from a common rogue into the kind-hearted sterotype who robbed from the rich to feed the poor. Embellishments to the tale took some liberties with history: for example, while King Richard traditionally appears in the modern legend as a figurehead of justice, it was the taxes to support his Crusade which impoverished the commoner; Richard spent a total of 4 months out of his 10-year reign in England; and being French, he did not speak English! Modern literature regarding Robin Hood begain to appear in the 1800's. Many of these authors merely collected the stories from the old ballads; others tried to link the ballads together into a single cohesive story. Still others used the ballads as a starting place for their own original interpretations. More recent authors have created entirely new and sometimes very different tales. These versions tend to focus not so much on Robin's deeds as his motivations. They also sometimes feature other characters in more prominent roles. For example: although Maid Marian never appeared in the early ballads, she has taken a major role in more recent retellings, often a strong heroine in her own right. With such a variety of literature to choose from, it can be bewildering for the casual reader to know where to start looking. The lists below might provide a guide to those who are curious as to What's Out There and what each book's contents are in relation to the legend. These lists will continue to grow, as will the collection of tales regarding the Hero of the Greenwood.
Robin Hood: The Lists
If your book-buying budget is limiting your enthusiasm, we highly recommend you check with your local public library regarding their Interlibrary Loan program.
Hungry for a suitable snack while reminiscing on the bold tales of Robin Hood? Make a stop at the Inn at Carl's Brook for an easy recipe, courtesy of Lady Marsha of Carl's Brook.
Coming Soon: A Gallery of prints and greeting cards related to Celtic, Medieval, and Robin Hood themes.
Go here for suggestions on how to defend the weak and uphold justice in today's modern world. It may be easier than you think -- sometimes only requiring the click of a mouse button....
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