Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography (Stephen Knight)

Though I no longer live near he was reputed to roam, the story of Robin Hood is still near and dear to my heart.  In A Mythic Biography, Stephen Knight looks at Robin's story.  Others (like J.C. Holt) have tried to determine if the stories were in fact based on a historical figure; Knight, however, focuses instead on just the tales- from Hood's initial mention in medieval times to present day- and looks at how the myth has evolved over the centuries.

Looking at the stories, it's impressive to see the range of roles and themes Robin's story has assumed.  He's either a festive village fertility figure, outlawed yeoman, forest trickster, gentrified outlaw, naturalist, social reformer (standing against oppression), nationalist, romantic, or some combination thereof.  In the late 1800s, Robin's story transitioned to moralistic children's works, adding another dimension.  In addition, Robin has been "a channel for many varied . . . reflections on gender, race, politics, time, and even the supernatural."  It's clear that "elements of the myth have interested creative minds in different periods in different ways, and each has driven the myth in a new direction- essentially, driven it onward, given it new vigor."  That said, there is a common thread- "he always represents resistance to authority."

Towards the end, Knight steps back and does devote a few pages to consideration of a historical Robin Hood.  He concludes- and I concur- that "it seems highly improbable, or at least unprovable, that a Mr. R. Hood ever existed."  That disappointing reality aside, I still enjoy tales of Robin.  Perhaps it's because "to study Robin Hood is to study over five hundred years of the development of modern concepts of heroism, art, politics, and the self."

Overall, this is a great book.  Many other books try to determine the identity of the real Robin Hood.  Largely ignoring the historical investigation frees Knight to focus on the literary variations and transitions mentioned above, and I found that fascinating.  It's clear that he's well-informed (this is a rather scholarly/academic read), and yet he keeps the book is short (210 pages).  Its brevity is both appreciated and disappointing, though- there were times Knight references authors and other Robin Hood scholars without appropriate elaboration for the amateur enthusiast.  It's probably impossible to strike the perfect balance, though, so he did well overall- and an extensive notes and bibliography section is included for further reading.

Rating: A