A review by martydah
Outlaw by Angus Donald
3.0
Outlaw is the story of Alan Dale, a young cutpurse, who escapes almost inevitable death at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham by joining up with Lord Robert Odo, aka Robin Hood, and his Sherwood Forest army. The book follows Alan's progress from fetch-and-carry servant to apprentice fighter and musician, to a full member of Robin's inner circle.
All of the main characters of the time honored legend are present: Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck and Maid Marian (called Marie-Anne here). Donald does a good job of recreating Norman-era England, complete with the imprisoned Eleanor of Aquitaine, the deteriorating King Henry and the absent Richard Lionheart who is off on a campaign to the Holy Land. The plot has a number of twists, including the discovery that there is a traitor in the inner circle who is feeding information to the Sheriff of Nottingham.
I rather liked this version of Robin Hood - cold, calculating, brutal and irreverent, but fair and just after his own fashion. Even Alan has his doubts about the man he has thrown his lot in with, but he comes to understand Robin's motives. This Robin Hood is a far cry (mercifully) from the jolly, simpering, green-tight-wearing Hollywood depiction and more believable for that.
All of the main characters of the time honored legend are present: Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck and Maid Marian (called Marie-Anne here). Donald does a good job of recreating Norman-era England, complete with the imprisoned Eleanor of Aquitaine, the deteriorating King Henry and the absent Richard Lionheart who is off on a campaign to the Holy Land. The plot has a number of twists, including the discovery that there is a traitor in the inner circle who is feeding information to the Sheriff of Nottingham.
I rather liked this version of Robin Hood - cold, calculating, brutal and irreverent, but fair and just after his own fashion. Even Alan has his doubts about the man he has thrown his lot in with, but he comes to understand Robin's motives. This Robin Hood is a far cry (mercifully) from the jolly, simpering, green-tight-wearing Hollywood depiction and more believable for that.