The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (1883)

The definitive retelling of the Robin Hood legend. Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, and the Merry Men rob from the rich, give to the poor, and outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham in Sherwood Forest.

Historical Significance:
Howard Pyle, America's greatest illustrator, wrote and illustrated this book in 1883, creating the version of Robin Hood that all subsequent adaptations draw from. Pyle consolidated scattered medieval ballads into a coherent narrative with the characters we know today. His Robin Hood is jovial, generous, and loyal — the template for Errol Flynn's 1938 film, Disney's animated fox (1973), Kevin Costner's 1991 version, and every retelling since. Pyle's own illustrations, in a medieval woodcut style, are considered masterpieces of book illustration.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1883. Free to read and share.