Taking us back to the earliest surviving stories of Robin Hood, the tales and ballads of the fifteenth century, Pollard sets out the economic, social and political context of the time and illuminates the legend of this yeoman hero as never before.

respected as an officially appointed forest ranger? Why do we ignore the fact that this celebrated hero led a life of violent crime? On the other hand, did he actually steal from the rich at all?
To find out, A. J. Pollard takes us back to the earliest surviving stories, the fifteenth century texts and ballads. Set in the economic, social and political context of the time, the legend of Robin Hood is illuminated as never before.
Robin Hood has been 'all things to all men', since he first appeared, speaking to the gentry, the peasants, and all those in between. Representing the English nation's subversive relationship with authority, the multifaceted legend has become the country's most enduringly popular hero. The story of the freedom-loving outlaw tells us much about the English nation, but tracing back to the first stories reveals even more about the society in which the legend arose.

'Robin Hood ? remains as mysterious and enigmatic as ever.' - Barrie Dobson, University of York and John Taylor, University of Leeds, UK 'Original and intriguing ? this is not a book any serious 'gode felawe' of Robin Hood's posthumous fraternity can afford to be without.' - Barrie Dobson, University of York and John Taylor, University of Leeds, UK 'Informative and stimulating ... full of fascinating material.' - Literature& History