Sherwood Parke Godwin Sherwood

Parke Godwin

Sherwood Parke Godwin Forced from his home by Norman invaders, young Edward Aelredson, Thane of Denby, takes refuge in the forest Sherwood, where, with sword and bow, he bedevils the usurping king and comes to be called ""."" Reprint.

Sherwood Details

Date : Published August 28th 1995 by Avon Books (Mm) (first published August 1st 1991) ISBN : 9780380709953 Author : Parke Godwin Format : Paperback 529 pages Genre : Historical, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Medieval

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Lohra says

I really liked this "origin" story. Very gritty. Very real. Took me a little bit to get into Godwin's writing style but in this tale Robin isn't some mythic good you have to accept. He's a man fighting for his idea of country. You understand him and you understand the people he's fighting against. In that light, the Sheriff of isn't wholly evil either. He's just fighting for a different cause. Loved the little insights into a world transitioning between earthy Norse mysticism and Christianity, the cultural clashes of Normans and Saxons, and the root of certain names like Earl and Carl and Fitz.

FYI for some more sensitive readers, there are a couple sexy times in this book. It fits into the story and it's not excessive or vulgar but it is there and it's more than mere mention so be forewarned.

Gary says

What an amazing vision of the story of Robin Hood. Parke brought to life, no, he made it live, in a very believable tale of one of folklore's greatest heroes. Seldom have I read a better historical fiction so well envisioned by the author. Robin, lived and breathed before my eyes. An Awesome work.

R.M. ArceJaeger says

Absolutely excellent. Definitely the best Robin Hood book I've yet read (and I've read quite a few!). Everything about it is believable, and the author truly makes you feel like you are witness to these events. I'm so used to reading Robin Hood books that mention Normans vs. Saxons without really delving into who they are or why they don't like each other (for someone not raised with that bit of British history, I can remember being very confused reading those first few books), that it was a delightful surprise to find a story that not only explained who the Normans and the Saxons were, but actually took me through the action- filled, gritty conquering of Britain. It truly made sense to place Robin in this turbulent 1000s, rather than the "standard" crusade-era of Richard.

I would not recommend this book to say a kid because there are many intense and sometimes ghastly scenes (it does center around war after all), but for young adults and adults it is definitely a piece of fiction worth reading!

Mikey24 says

Very good story but I do agree with some of the other reviewers when they noted that it was hard to follow. I had to re-read several paragraphs because the tenses were in disarray - as a reader, sometimes you don't know who's narrating.

Godwin has a very choppy and cluttered writing style which makes it difficult to follow however I'm a fan of "Robin Hood" so it kept me engaged enough to finish.

Not the best Robin Hood adaption. IMO Angus Donald's version is much better however it was still a very good book (if you can be patient with the writing).

Michael S. says

Quite simply one of the most thoroughly enjoyable books I have ever read. I found this in a used book store and took a chance on it. I really did not expect to like it because the cover art looked pretty cheesy; sort of cartoonish, plus I had never heard of the author. So I was expecting an unrealistic 'Robin Hood and his band of type of tale. This book is nothing like that. This is an emotionally complex, richly detailed, historically realistic epic saga. This is definitely not the Kevin Costner Robin Hood and you won't hear any Bryan Adams power ballads in the background. I was thoroughly wrapped in this story. I had touble putting it down. I brought it to work with me every day just in case I found a few spare minutes. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is even remotely interested in historical fiction. However, my usual favorite genre is epic fantasy and I would recommend this to any fans of that genre as well. This book has it all--love, betrayal, injustice, amazing fight scenes, intricately drawn culture, history, languages...everything I love in a great story. Particularly loved the language. I learned so many new words and phrases that were so interesting and made these characters so vivid. Thank goodness for iPhone dictionary apps! I got so caught up in it that I found myself thinking in Saxon..saying things to myself like "Och, but i'm that tired. Only I ent for the bed yet because I'm that hungry, I am. " This book made me want to cover my living room floor with "rushes", start wearing robes and breeches, cover the roof on my house with thatch and read by a rush-light. I won't spoil anything but there were some MAJORLY unexpected plot turns in this book that I never saw coming.I never would have guessed that Robin and the....oh, wait-- I said i wouldn't spoil it. Any road,, I loved this story and am ordering the sequel now.

Kate says

Typically, we see Robin Hood set during the Plantagenet era of England; sometimes Henry II’s reign, but usually during Richard the Lionheart’s crusade.

Godwin set his during the Norman conquest, highlighting the tumultuous transition from English Kings to French ones (namely, William the Conqueror). It’s a fascinating comparison to legends set later in the time period (because the Plantagenets were also French). This Robin is decidedly not loyal to his King.

Marian is also different - she is well off, but not necessarily high born. Typically we see a Marian that is of equal rank or higher to Robin. This is not the case here. I like her, though. She curses and damns the Normans in every other breath, but given her back story, it makes perfect sense.

The Sheriff. He actually had redeeming qualities! I normally never say this of the of the Sheriff character, but he wants to make things work before Robin is outlawed. He is forced to outlaw Robin. Both men are honorable to each other. So yeah, I really liked this version. I can't wait to read the sequel.

My only negative comment is STOP DRINKING TEA! Unless you mean brew, in which case, just say brew. But tea had not been brought to Britain yet!!!!

Read this version, especially if you're like me and your favorite historical event is the Battle of Hastings.

Verity Brown says

I picked this up, not expecting anything special, but it turned out to be one of the better retellings of the Robin Hood story that I have ever encountered. Most Robin Hood stories feel more like fantasy than history. Not this one. Godwin deals in the gritty realities of the 11th century. His Robin Hood is not a mythic hero, just a middle-class Saxon farmer/forester trying to hold onto the only (small, yet complicated) world he understands against a tide of Norman invaders who are determined to run roughshod over the traditional rights of his people. Godwin's other characters are cut from the same cloth--realistic people with believable aims and desires of their own, clashing in the ways that real people do. Above all, it's easy to believe that this Robin Hood (neither unknown nor a great national hero) could survive in under-the-radar oral tradition, finally appearing historically as a brief reference to "rhymes of Robin Hood" in a surviving manuscript a couple of centuries later.

I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons. One is that I'm not overly fond of Godwin's writing style. Another is that the story takes a slightly unbelievable twist toward the end for the sake of a happy ending. But it will be a long time before I find a Robin Hood story that satisfies me the way this one did.

Werner says

Update note, Dec. 24, 2012 --That book mentioned in the first paragraph below, that I couldn't recall the author or title of when I wrote this review, was Robin Hood (1912) written by Henry Gilbert.

My first literary introduction to the Robin Hood legend came as a seven- year old kid, through a large, thick (or so it seemed to me then, with a child's size perceptions!) trade paperback novel, of which --to my great frustration!-- I can't now recall either the author or the title. (But I vividly recall the cover, and large amounts of the content!) The style and reading level marked it as an adult, not a juvenile book --but a 50s adult book, with no content a kid with a good vocabulary and bright mind couldn't read. I read it avidly, and the unjustly outlawed champion of the underdogs (like myself) against the bullies, who robbed from the rich to give to the poor, found an enduring soft spot in my heart; hence my attraction to other literary and dramatic portrayals of the character. I'm currently reading Lawhead's Hood, and that prompted me to think about writing a retrospective review of this somewhat earlier book.

The Robin Hood legend/tradition grew over time, adding layers of features influenced by later developments; the medieval folk ballads about Robin that are the first embodiments of the tale don't anchor him in a specific historical time and a specific part of England. Sir Walter Scott was the first writer, in (which I've also reviewed on Goodreads), to make him a contemporary of Richard the Lionhearted. That image stuck, and became the traditional historical setting for most of the treatments that followed, including my first introduction to the character. Godwin, however, sets himself to writing a historical re-imagining of what the factual roots of the tale, if any, might have been like (much as Catherine Christian does for the Arthurian legend in The Pendragon). That leads him to set the story just after the 1066 Norman conquest, when the antipathy between Saxons and Normans was at its height (by the time period of Ivanhoe, that distinction, and with it the animosity, had actually been largely dissipated by intermarriage and acculturation).

Though the Goodreads description above strays into review territory, its superlative praises are actually pretty well founded. Personally, I debated between giving the book five stars or four only because I sometimes think I'm too prodigal with my five-stars, and the five-star rating puts it in company with some major classics. But I settled on five, because there is literally no element of historical fiction that Godwin doesn't handle well here: excellent plotting, vivid and credible characters, perfect pacing, beautiful style with just the right amount of rich detail, serious depth and a solidly-grounded moral perspective, and accurately researched history seamlessly integrated with the story. Here and there, the book realistically reflects some of the pre- Victorian earthiness of the world being depicted, but this is never gratuitous nor obscene. It can be, in places, a very violent book; and it reminds us that human history is often, at bottom, simply a record of the cruel injustice humans are capable of --and people you like and care about are not infrequently on the receiving end of violence and cruel injustice here. (Though Godwin also reminds us that the villains in this world are humans, too --sometimes with virtues along with their vices, and/or with their own mental rationalizations of what they do.) The role of simple folk-Catholic Christianity in the lives of these people is treated sympathetically and positively; and especially through Father Beorn's reflections and struggles, the author (even though Godwin himself isn't, as far as I know, a professed Christian) grapples a bit with the issues of the right Christian response to violent tyranny and injustice --a question that still occupies thinking Christians, in a world where the oppressors have only updated their weaponry and adopted Armani suits instead of chainmail.

"Bottom line" (as Library Journal would put it :-)): highly recommended, to historical fiction fans and to any readers who like quality plotted fiction!

Dana says

I was told before reading this story that I would either love this author, or not care for him in the slightest. I somehow have defied this and have landed in between.

Parke Godwin I feel has a good grasp on the character of Robin and even wrote a very pleasing Marian. Because of this, I thought for certain that I would love this tale because this characterization seems to be what most Robin Hood authors lack. Godwin's pro's overshadowed his characterization, however. I found myself with blurry eyes for most of the book as it became more politically oriented than anything else. If you are a reader that enjoys that sort of tale, then this might work better with you. Robin Hood for me is more of an adventure tale. Sherwood did have its share of Merry Men righting wrongs and even the battle against the Sharif rang true to Robin Hood, but it was done in such a way that did not flow and often times left me wanting to skip ahead to parts that strictly concerned the characters as opposed to the overarching plot.

While it was not an overall bad book, it just wasn't the tale for me. If you are a fan of Robin Hood, I do suggest picking it up and giving it a try though because Godwin does have a firm grasp on what he wants to say. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Cole says

A fresh take on the Robin Hood legend set during the Norman conquest of England after the Battle of Hastings.

It took me a while to get a feel for Godwin's writing style. Having previously read him that was to be expected. You're going to need a dictionary for this one though. I learned a lot of new words.

My only criticism is the blatant anachronism used in reference to the Plantagenet era. Otherwise a very enjoyable read....highly recommended.

Amanda says

OH YOU GUYS

<3

Robin Hood with lots of sex and violence? Robin Hood set in 1066 when it makes sense instead of during the reign of Richard the Lionheart? this book is basically the next best thing to BBC Robin Hood, which therefore makes it objectively the next- worst thing in the universe, but IT'S COOL WE'RE ALL FRIENDS HERE

John Enfield says

I'm about 2/3 of the way through this book. It's a different take on the Robin Hood legend. I like most of the changes though. It seems a bit more grounded in reality than most of the ones I've read. There is a touch of Celtic mysticism to it, but it is always, at least so far, from the point of view of certain characters: being their interpretation of events or people, rather than in the narrative suggesting it actually happened.

Perhaps the biggest change is that of timing and setting. Often, Robin Hood is set during one of the crusades with Robin having come back from them to find things have changed for the worse and he has to right the wrongs. In this case, the setting is shortly after the Battle of Hastings and deals with the aftermath of the Norman conquest. The is a Norman under King William's service. There's no Richard the Lionheart or Prince John in this one.

I love that Parke introduces us to Robin, named Edward Aldredson of Denby rather than the usual Robin of Locksly, and the Sheriff, named Ralf Fitz-Gerald, through their backstories as boys in the early chapters. She makes both main characters sympathetic and you come to understand their different points of view before they meet and become adversaries. Many familiar characters to Robin Hood fans like Marian, , (called John Littlereede here), (called Will Scatloch - and his Welsh heritage explored more than I've seen before), etc. are fleshed out more than you usually see them with insights into how and why they do the things that are often attributed to them in Robin Hood stories.

I've read many versions, but this one is shaping up to be my new favorite. Oddly enough, I recently also bought another different version: Steven Lawhead's 'Hood'. Haven't read it yet. It'll be interesting to compare the two once I have.

Arabesque says

I didn't actually read this but I got it out from the library and decided to flip through it to see if it was worth my time. In those few minutes I found two things about the book I very much disliked and therefore returned it unread.

First, the writing style is not my taste. It's rather choppy and is not written very well. Godwin's style is confusing and hard to follow. It just doesn't seem to be very good literary quality. For that alone, I didn't feel like wasting my time on it (Though I love Robin Hood retellings!).

Second, and perhaps more importantly, one of the first page I happened to flip to somewhere in the middle of the book was Marian and Robin sleeping together but with to many details that I care to know. It was uncomfortable and I just don't like scenes like that in books I read. It was to inappropriate. Granted, they were apparently supposed to be married but still, scenes like this are unnecessary and really awkward. Needless to say, I stopped reading and brought it back to the library. I am writing this review so that in the future, if I come across this book and wonder why I didn't read it, I will remember why and beware!

For anyone looking for a good Robin Hood retelling, I would suggest The Outlaws of Sherwood or Hood!

Susan says

I read 30 pages. Does this book get better? Because it is over 500 pages and I can't see myself slogging through it if it doesn't get better. Actually, I think I won't continue, life is too short and I can't read a book I am not enjoying simply because the book summary sounds good. If I'm not enjoying it, it goes back to the library. Like this one will.

Not for me.

Bill says

Now that Bernard Cornwell has become the historical novel author de jour, I often wonder if he would have existed at all without Parke Godwin. Godwin often toils in the same literary field at Cornwell... retellings of famous Anglo events and people... and often to better effect than Cornwall manages. Sherwood isn't a retelling of the Robin Hood tale, as much as a complete reimagining. Godwin places Robin in an England quickly being subjugated by the Normans, following the Battle of Hastings. Rather than a simple story of "robbing the rich to give to the poor", Godwin aims for larger targets; the worth of man and the power and rights that men deserve under a ruling government... even a monarchy. For fans of the Robin Hood legend of Robin, Little John et al keeping Jolly Old England safe for good King Richard some real work to get into Godwin's incarnation, but, like me, they'll feel rewarded at story's end.