So, I've read another Robin Hood book. I'm rather fond of Robin Hood, and it's really interesting to look at all the different varieties of stories there are about him. I love how he, and other central characters, can be subtly or significantly recast, depending on the author, and how the incidents chosen and the era used to set the story in all alter the books to make many of them quite distinct.
This one, by Simon Green, is definitely one of the better versions I've read. I like the opening, with Robin in prison in the Holy Land, breaking out with the aid of a Saracen, only to return home and find his father executed for devil worship and his house burned down. I'm not entirely sure whether there was still much paganism in England at this point, but it does make a good addition to the story, and unlike in Angus MacDonald's 'Outlaw', Robin isn't involved in it at all.
All the characters you'd expect are there, from the evil Sheriff to Robin, Friar Tuck, Little John (in this one married and with children, which I don't recall seeing in the others, or at least, not as a major plot point), and with the addition of Azeem the Saracen who's vowed to remain by Robin's side until he can save his life and thus redeem himself of that debt. Azeem may be in one of the other versions I've read, but not as a major character like in this one.
It's a good read, there's plenty of action, stirring defences of liberty, and of course the romance between Robin Hood and Maid Marion, which isn't made a great deal of. Also, Maid Marion is nice and competent, which is always good :)
My only criticism is that it felt a bit short, and the ending almost read as if the author had been ordered to keep it under a certain word count, and had to rapidly cram in the last few bits of action in order to meet the target. Other than that, it was certainly an enjoyable version of the legend.
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Friday, 16 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Hereward
I was browsing through Fantastic Fiction, looking at new authors (as you do, when you really can't face doing any more uni work and it's the holiday so there's not a whole lot to do), and happened to spot this one. The cover, I confess, grabbed my attention. Let's face it, we all judge books by their covers, or you'd never be able to make a decision about what you wanted to read. Anyway, clicking on it, I discovered that this was based on an old English legend I'd never heard of... Well, as a great lover of Robin Hood (I'm up to six different interpretations of it at the moment, with another on the way from ebay), I thought it was well worth a go.
Ah, before I go any further, I should perhaps say this version is by James Wilde, and should be easy enough to distinguish from others as it seems to be the only recent one.
Anyway, this is a fascinating read. I'm going to be doing the period in which it's set next year at uni (and I can't wait!), so it was interesting from that perspective. The sources from that period are so scanty that you can basically make up what you will, but it did feel fairly solidly based. I'm not an expert yet, probably never will be an expert expert, but I would hope I'll know a bit more this time next year.
Hereward is a brilliant hero, though not without his flaws and darker side, and I love the monk, Alric, who becomes his constant companion after a chance meeting. Alric is also portrayed very sympathetically, which often isn't the case with churchmen in historical novels (you only have to look at Angus Donald's version of Robin Hood, called Outlaw, which has a horrendous priest). Mind, the early church is not completely safe from attack. A rich cast of characters, and a great 'feel' to the story keep it compelling, along with some great sword play and action scenes. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out not just for anything else by James Wilde (this is a debut novel, but he's definitely left space for a sequel--perhaps a Hereward trilogy is in the making?) but also anything else about Hereward. The story's brilliant, and I love the fact that Hereward isn't portrayed as perfect, and also the way the story manages to cover a fairly long time span without feeling contrived.
This is a fantastic book, I thoroughly recommend it. Rescues a great hero from obscurity (or reinvents a great hero), and provides a brilliant adventure/historical novel too.
Ah, before I go any further, I should perhaps say this version is by James Wilde, and should be easy enough to distinguish from others as it seems to be the only recent one.
Anyway, this is a fascinating read. I'm going to be doing the period in which it's set next year at uni (and I can't wait!), so it was interesting from that perspective. The sources from that period are so scanty that you can basically make up what you will, but it did feel fairly solidly based. I'm not an expert yet, probably never will be an expert expert, but I would hope I'll know a bit more this time next year.
Hereward is a brilliant hero, though not without his flaws and darker side, and I love the monk, Alric, who becomes his constant companion after a chance meeting. Alric is also portrayed very sympathetically, which often isn't the case with churchmen in historical novels (you only have to look at Angus Donald's version of Robin Hood, called Outlaw, which has a horrendous priest). Mind, the early church is not completely safe from attack. A rich cast of characters, and a great 'feel' to the story keep it compelling, along with some great sword play and action scenes. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out not just for anything else by James Wilde (this is a debut novel, but he's definitely left space for a sequel--perhaps a Hereward trilogy is in the making?) but also anything else about Hereward. The story's brilliant, and I love the fact that Hereward isn't portrayed as perfect, and also the way the story manages to cover a fairly long time span without feeling contrived.
This is a fantastic book, I thoroughly recommend it. Rescues a great hero from obscurity (or reinvents a great hero), and provides a brilliant adventure/historical novel too.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Outlaw
I believe I've mentioned (several times...) before that I have a bit of a thing for Robin Hood. I actually intend at some point to write my own version set in a different era to usual (I think Robin Hood would make a good Digger :), and he could be loyal to the 'true king'). At any rate, that was why I finally decided that although the blurb wasn't hugely attractive (I'd rather read about Robin Hood the hero than Robin Hood the terrible bandit, the 'godfather of Sherwood forest') I'd give it a go.
I enjoyed it, but throughout there was a niggling sense that there was something just a little off. There was nothing really that I could put my finger on and say, no, this is definitely not right, this isn't how people would have acted, but it just didn't quite feel right. I think part of the problem was the pagan ceremony (unlikely in that period, as the author does acknowledge at the end), and the distaste for the church that seemed to be a common element of every outlaw apart from Tuck (although even he didn't seem hugely enamoured of it). I'm not saying the church was necessarily perfect, nor am I suggesting that everybody loved it wholeheartedly, but I don't think anti-clericalism was as prominent as what was suggested. Or perhaps more that where there was criticism of the people of the church, that it would be directed towards individual abusers of the power rather than the church in general.
I rather liked the ending, and the idea that Robin then went onto crusade (which is apparently the subject of a sequel). It's set in the reign of Henry II--Richard the Lionheart's father. I'd like to know more about the period. I think of the different versions I've read, there are two particular 'bits' that stand out to me. One is the idea of Robin as a rebel against the usurper John rather than Richard. The other is the tale of Robin's death, where he shoots an arrow and asks to be buried where it lands.
Oh, there was one bit that I wasn't convinced by. When the queen was referred to as reaching sixty, which was a huge age to live to, I wasn't sure whether that's entirely accurate. I don't know that we have a lot of information for the period, I do know that the previous conceptions of everyone dying young in the early modern period are somewhat flawed. Everyone either died very young or tended to live into their fifties/sixties. But I'm not an expert, so that might be quite accurate.
In short, it's not bad. But I think the perspective it takes makes it more of a teenage rather than an adult book (although there's some bad language and bits of quite graphic violence). Because it's from the perspective of a younger lad though, Alan Dale, who joins the band after having been a thief, and it basically charts his growing up against the background of Robin Hood, I would've put it as a teenage one. There's no reason why adults shouldn't read it (and technically, I'm both an adult and a teenager :) ), and I'd say that readers should probably be about 15 or so before I'd start recommending it (obviously that varies depending on an individual, but I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to my brother who's fifteen if I thought he'd actually read it).
I'll probably read the next one too, when I spot it. On the other hand, I won't be hunting about for it. It's a good book, I love Robin Hood (and he's interestingly enough portrayed in this version, though not in a great deal of depth I wouldn't say), and if you see it in a library it's probably worth your time to have a read.
I enjoyed it, but throughout there was a niggling sense that there was something just a little off. There was nothing really that I could put my finger on and say, no, this is definitely not right, this isn't how people would have acted, but it just didn't quite feel right. I think part of the problem was the pagan ceremony (unlikely in that period, as the author does acknowledge at the end), and the distaste for the church that seemed to be a common element of every outlaw apart from Tuck (although even he didn't seem hugely enamoured of it). I'm not saying the church was necessarily perfect, nor am I suggesting that everybody loved it wholeheartedly, but I don't think anti-clericalism was as prominent as what was suggested. Or perhaps more that where there was criticism of the people of the church, that it would be directed towards individual abusers of the power rather than the church in general.
I rather liked the ending, and the idea that Robin then went onto crusade (which is apparently the subject of a sequel). It's set in the reign of Henry II--Richard the Lionheart's father. I'd like to know more about the period. I think of the different versions I've read, there are two particular 'bits' that stand out to me. One is the idea of Robin as a rebel against the usurper John rather than Richard. The other is the tale of Robin's death, where he shoots an arrow and asks to be buried where it lands.
Oh, there was one bit that I wasn't convinced by. When the queen was referred to as reaching sixty, which was a huge age to live to, I wasn't sure whether that's entirely accurate. I don't know that we have a lot of information for the period, I do know that the previous conceptions of everyone dying young in the early modern period are somewhat flawed. Everyone either died very young or tended to live into their fifties/sixties. But I'm not an expert, so that might be quite accurate.
In short, it's not bad. But I think the perspective it takes makes it more of a teenage rather than an adult book (although there's some bad language and bits of quite graphic violence). Because it's from the perspective of a younger lad though, Alan Dale, who joins the band after having been a thief, and it basically charts his growing up against the background of Robin Hood, I would've put it as a teenage one. There's no reason why adults shouldn't read it (and technically, I'm both an adult and a teenager :) ), and I'd say that readers should probably be about 15 or so before I'd start recommending it (obviously that varies depending on an individual, but I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to my brother who's fifteen if I thought he'd actually read it).
I'll probably read the next one too, when I spot it. On the other hand, I won't be hunting about for it. It's a good book, I love Robin Hood (and he's interestingly enough portrayed in this version, though not in a great deal of depth I wouldn't say), and if you see it in a library it's probably worth your time to have a read.
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