The novel is notable for taking the subject of Robin Hood, which had been increasingly popular through the 19th century, in a new direction that influenced later writers, artists, and filmmakers through the next century. Pyle had been submitting illustrated poems and fairy tales to New York publications since 1876, and had met with success. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was the first novel he attempted. He took his material from Middle Age ballads and wove them into a cohesive story, altering them for coherence and the ...
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The novel is notable for taking the subject of Robin Hood, which had been increasingly popular through the 19th century, in a new direction that influenced later writers, artists, and filmmakers through the next century. Pyle had been submitting illustrated poems and fairy tales to New York publications since 1876, and had met with success. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was the first novel he attempted. He took his material from Middle Age ballads and wove them into a cohesive story, altering them for coherence and the tastes of his child audience. For example, he included "Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar" in the narrative order to reintroduce Friar Tuck. He needed a cooperative priest for the wedding of outlaw Allan a Dale (Pyle's spelling of the original Alan-a-Dale) to his sweetheart Ellen. In the original "A Gest of Robyn Hode", the life is saved of an anonymous wrestler who had won a bout but was likely to be murdered because he was a stranger. Pyle adapted it and gave the wrestler the identity of David of Doncaster, one of Robin's band in the story "Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow." In his novelistic treatment of the tales, Pyle thus developed several characters who had been mentioned in only one ballad, such as David of Doncaster or Arthur a Bland.
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Add this copy of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood to cart. $19.33, new condition, Sold by Media Smart rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hawthorne, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Insight Publica.
Add this copy of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood to cart. $19.74, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2021 by Insight Publica.
In 1883 Howard Pyle (1853-1911) published and illustrated The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Pyle based his book on the legendary English hero who is mentioned time and again in old English ballads. If Robin Hood did exist, he would have lived in the 1100s and 1200s. In 1968 Classic Press published a complete and unabridged version of the story as part of the Educator Classic Library. This version features maps, historical background, and definitions of key words on the margins of the pages. Thus, as the reader enjoys the adventures of jolly Robin and his merry men (Little John, Allan a Dale, Will Scarlet, and others) he or she is guided through the story with annotations that enhance the reading experience. The many mirthful conversations among Robin's loyal band and the numerous good-natured adventure stories from Sherwood Forest make it difficult for the reader to be in a sour mood as he or she reads this delightful book. The only time the story takes a somber tone is during the last chapter when we learn about the death of Robin Hood. I highly recommend The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, especially the version described in this review.
