Looking for a good Robin Hood book.

[metal134]

I realize that there is no definitive Robin Hood text or even a definitive telling of the Robin Hood tale, but can anyone recommend a good book based on the Robin Hood legend that is geared more toward an older audience? I have come across many books, but they are all aimed at kids.

[Rosalind]

Do you mean a really modern retelling, or one of the older ones? The first thing I think of when I think of Robin Hood is McSpadden's retelling of the ballads, and Roger Green's version is always popular. I don't really know of any decent, modern adult retelings, but I enjoyed Robin McKinleys 'The Outlaws of Sherwood' (which is usually put under YA).
There is one adult novel, a more strictly historical retelling of Robin Hood, which I like a lot, but I read it years ago and I'm afraid I can't even remember the title (despite looking for it online). If my amnesia goes away, I'll edit. Sorry about that.

[Petrarch's Love]

You might be interested in checking out this Wikipedia article on the development of the Robin Hood legend. It seems to be pretty acurate from juging from what I've read elsewhere, and it cites the major works that Robin appears in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood

[JBI]

There was a Connections episode (A show written and acted in by historian James Burke) all about Robin Hood. If I remember correctly, Sir Walter Scott wrote some stuff about Robin Hood, but if you want a real laugh and funny telling, pick up The Once and Future King (the Sword and the Stone) by T.H. White. Robin Wood > Robin Hood.

[metal134]

You might be interested in checking out this Wikipedia article on the development of the Robin Hood legend. It seems to be pretty acurate from juging from what I've read elsewhere, and it cites the major works that Robin appears in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood
Yeah, I actually read that before I posted here and it is interesting to see how the story developed through the years. I had no idea that the legend had evolved that much over the centuries; makes it hard to get any kind of real historical grasp on the character.

[Nightshade]

It is interesting.... and I would sa the outlaws of sherwood though not an adult really serious one is goodand in someways does take into ac**** the effects of legends and how they change.
But recntly actually I know excatly when we got it into the library it arrived the day before the first episode of the new robin hood series wasaired on the bbc so 7th of october I think. Anyway I havent read it yet but it was a Robin hood and it wasnt shelved under young adult or children:nod:

[mtpspur]

Henry Gilbert's Robin Hood. My copy is an hardcover with no publication date from Saalfield Publishing, Akron Oh I found years ago. A quick look see on yahoo and it's possible year of writing may be 1912. You may think it's at the kid level but with modern levels down across the board that's saying a lot. My preface is undated but the internet entry said preface was 1912. Quite old and no dust jacket. This version covers Robin's entire career leading to his death.

[metal134]

Cool. If it was published in Akron, I'll bet the University of Akron's library has it (I'm a student there, so I can get it). I'm going to check the catalog right now.

edit- They don't have it.