Robin Hood -- Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood

ROBIN HOOD RESOURCES ONLINE

"Lythe and listin, gentilmen,
That be of frebore blode;
I shall you tel of a gode yeman,
His name was Robyn Hode."
-A Gest of Robyn Hode
(An early printed Robin Hood ballad)

This Robin Hood site offers historical and literary information on the legendary stories of England's best-loved outlaw and his band of Merry Men. This website covers the entire legend from the earliest medieval ballads and May Games to the latest films. Like the adventures of Robin Hood, these resources are intended for everyone: students and scholars, longtime fans and beginners, children and adults.

Nearly all the articles are written by Allen W. Wright, an independent scholar who has spoken at several international academic conferences on the Robin Hood legend and been published in the scholarly collection Bandit Territories. This site and its creator were featured on the TV documentary Robin Hood: The First Outlaw Hero.

Let the green sidebar or the graphic or text menus below guide your journey into the history and myth of Robin Hood, bold outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood.

Read some Robin Hood Stories and Ballads

New to the world of Robin Hood? Begin with the Beginner's Guide

Download The Legend of Robin Hood Screensaver!

Exclusive interviews include:
Michael Morpurgo (author of War Horse on his novel Outlaw: The Story of Robin Hood

Kevin Durand discusses his role of Little John in the 2010 film Robin Hood

Alan Doyle speaks about playing Allan A'Dayle in the same movie

Ethan Reiff talks about the original draft of the screenplay where the Sheriff of Nottingham was the hero.

Go to the Beginner's Guide to learn about Bold Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and the other heroes and villains of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire and Barnsdale (sometimes spelled Barnesdale) and Loxley / Locksley, Yorkshire. If you've never heard about Robin's great feats of longbow archery, then this is the section for you.

Wolfshead Through the Ages will fill you in on the literary history of Robin Hood and how the stories have changed over time. For example, the Robin Hood of the earliest ballads did not rob from the rich to give to the poor.

The Search for A Real Robin Hood looks at candidates for the "real" medieval outlaws behind the greenwood legend. You'll also learn about the real Sheriff of Nottingham, King Richard the Lionheart, Prince John and the facts behind the folklore.

Travel to "Robin Hood Country" with Robin Hood -- A Personal Journey. This section describes visits to Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, Kirklees, Barnsdale, York and other locations where Robin supposedly shot his bow and arrow. It also explores the webmaster's personal love of the legend.

Spotlight of the Month features reviews of novels, television shows, movies, plays, beloved kids' books and more. Check to see if I've thrown a spotlight on your favourite book, TV show or movie. Is there a childhood classic about the outlaw hero that you would like me to cover?

Elsewhere on the site. you can find Robin Hood ballads, interviews, a message board, images, links and whole lot more about the adventures of the Merry Men. For more details, click on the Introduction and What's New page. Students can also visit the "For Students" section, which features an FAQ on how to use this site and offers answers to some basic questions about Robin Hood.

Many authors, playwrights and musicians have told tales of these rogues. Boldoutlaw.com is dedicated to not only the tellers of the tale, but also to the audience that keeps the legend alive. I hope you enjoy the site and pass on the Robin Hood stories for the next generation to enjoy.

Currently, a new movie is being filmed - directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. I wish this new production well. I hope it continues the tradition but also has something new to say.

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