Penned in 1891, McSpadden's version of Robin Hood is a straightforward telling, suitable for children and adults alike. The language is at times antiquated, as you'd expect. McSpadden does give cursory nods to the original ballads- mentioning locations like Barnesdale (Robin's original haunt, according to the earliest stories)- but this is mostly the classic story we know today. It's set in the time of King Henry II, King Richard the Lionheart, and King John. Each chapter tells a story- how Robin (the wrongly-disinherited Robert Fitzooth) becomes an outlaw, how he comes to live in Sherwood with his merry band of men, how certain famous members (Little John, Will Scarlet, etc) join, and how they spend their days robbing the rich, giving to the poor, foiling the sheriff of Nottingham, loving the freedom of the forest, and basking in the thrill of adventure. It's romantic, light-hearted, short (just shy of 200 pages) and enjoyable; a worthy read.
Rating: B+
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