'Hood'

Review

Hood
by Stephen R. Lawhead

2006

Robin Hood is no longer wearing tights. Set in Wales as opposed to the familiar Sherwood and Nottingham, Lawhead's approach to this re-working is as much a challenge to folklore tradition as it is a fresh, new take on this classic.

If you've never read any of Lawhead's work, think of Tolkien for this generation. As Tolkien did, so too does Lawhead base his works on pieces of oral tradition and early Western culture. In Lawhead's case this happens to Celtic history/myth. So here we see Robin Hood, known as Bran ap Brychan, a Welsh prince who finds himself in a position to lead the remains of his tattered kingdom from the oppression of the new Ffreinc (Norman) conquerors.

This part I find really exciting, the transition of conquest as the new rulers try to establish their authority and the locals try to work out how best to survive in their new circumstances. We see the language barriers, strange customs and ways of thinking, and the eternal spiritual question of each side thinking God is on their side during a struggle.

I thought it was like the historical rise of a superhero, and in this Bran ap Brychan rises from the ashes of his former life, complete with costume, darkness and an old world teacher who directs him to his path of destiny. I can't describe how excited I was to read him first rejecting the bow and then being forced to use it seeing as it was the last weapon remaining. And then finding the wood for each arrow, collecting feathers for the flights...

Check out the prologue and part of chapter 1 on Stephen R. Lawhead's official website.

If this is your first Lawhead experience, don't start with Hood. I only say this because it's the first in a series and the others haven't been published yet! Have a look at the Pendragon Cycle (Arthurian legend) and the Song of Albion trilogy.