Robin Hood and a New (to Me) Author

Eureka! I’ve discovered an author!

He’s not a new author at all; he’s just new to me, like all my clothes, appliances, vehicles…well, you get the picture. I’m always a little bit behind the times, but it doesn’t bother me one bit, especially when it comes to literature. If a book is still in print decades (or centuries) after having been written, that’s more reassuring to me than 10,000 bandwagon reactions to a brand new book. 

Don’t get me wrong—new books can be awesome! I’m hoping to add my own drop to the bucket one of these days. I’m merely pointing out that if a book warrants multiple editions over multiple decades, it’s probably worthwhile. And in this case, that’s definitely true. 

THE AUTHOR, REVEALED!

So the author’s name is ::drumroll:: Stephen R. Lawhead. 

All right,  I see some of you rolling your eyes. Maybe I’ve just stumbled across someone you’ve been reading since then ‘80’s. If that’s true, then you’re 40 years superior to me, and I applaud you. Really, I do! I wish I’d discovered him sooner. He seems to write about stuff I really enjoy—Christianity, King Arthur, and Robin Hood, to name a few. 

Lawhead has churned out over 30 novels, many of them set in ancient Britain. His books feel so accurate that I was surprised he’s from Nebraska. He and his wife live at Oxford now, so I’m sure that makes his research easier and more enjoyable. I was less surprised, however, to find that he’s a Christian. In the books I read, the religious representation was accurate and non-ironic, which I really appreciated. 

THE SERIES, REVEALED!

So how did I stumble across this gem? I was perusing some posts by people who follow the Rabbit Room and saw Lawhead’s King Raven Trilogy recommended several times. The titles were simple enough: Hood, Scarlet, and Tuck. I’ve always been partial to ol’ Robin, so I borrowed the first book from my library’s audiobook app and got started. Thereafter, the trilogy was my companion while I folded laundry, vacuumed floors, and did endless hours of meal prep. (Housework can be a goldmine for audiobooks.) King Raven and I have kept the house in order for the past couple of months, but sadly our journey has ended. Now I’d like to introduce him to you.

WHAT I MOST ENJOYED

Authentic Setting

I narrowed down the things I enjoy about this trilogy into two categories: authentic and entertaining. First, the books felt authentic to me. While I’m not British, the majority of my books are from over the pond as opposed to our all-American variety. In general, I find their humor more humorous, their wit wittier, and their intellect more intelligent. (Please forgive the blatant and unfair generalization. I’m just relaying my opinion.) Also I got to teach British literature for nearly a decade, and I never tired of their authors or their history. I’m proud to be an American, but part of my soul belongs to Albion.

Authentic Story

I’ve always enjoyed the legend of Robin Hood, and Lawhead did a great job retelling the story. He kept it fresh and interesting without reinventing the wheel. The storyline is definitely grittier than, say, the Disney version with Robin as a green-capped fox. But despite the depictions of invasion, deprivation, and war, Lawhead never wallows in lurid descriptions. He keeps it classy. He also depicts the religious aspects realistically. A book set in ancient Britain cannot honestly ignore the influence of the church. I mean, their entire history is one of religious war, persecution, and revival. Lawhead’s story weaves the presence of the church with the characters and plot in a believable yet unobtrusive way. 

Entertaining Style

Lawhead’s style is natural and descriptive. The story glides past, and you don’t even notice you’re reading (or listening). It doesn’t feel stilted or forced even though the characters often speak French or Latin. As vexing as it was to listen to sections of untranslated French on an audiobook, I took heart in the fact that it was authentic. 

The story is set shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066, so the native Welsh and the conquering French were as different in language as in everything else. At least some of them had Latin in common, as it was the universal language of learning and religion. But to write a realistic book, an author would have to include the language barrier as well. To me, it somehow lent character to the storyline.

Now, you may remember that I’m not usually an audiobook lover. As convenient as they are, they can never beat the feel of paper in my hands. But as I’m a little pressed for time these days, I was happy with the audio option. The story moves along, the plot progresses, and the perspective changes frequently. Even so, it isn’t too confusing to keep up with, even via earbuds. 

Entertaining Characters

The focal character seems like it would be Robin Hood throughout the series, and in a way that’s true. But each book shifts a different character into the foreground, as you can tell by the book titles. The second book, Scarlet, is initially a little jarring since it’s written from the first-person perspective of death-row-prisoner Will Scarlett. It takes some time to get used to the conversational tone, so different from the classic narrator style of book one, but I found my bearings quickly enough and enjoyed the change. You wouldn’t think there would be enough source material about Friar Tuck to base the third book on, but you’d be wrong. Tuck plays a major role in the unfolding and conclusion of the tale, and it’s enjoyable to see this God-fearing, mead-drinking, staff-wielding churchman in action.

NEXT UP, MORE LAWHEAD

I’ve recently started one of his most well-known books, Byzantium, and I’m enjoying it already. I will most likely delve into his Pendragon Cycle afterward, since I’m a sucker for all things Arthur. If you’re between books or just looking to add a few new titles to your library, consider the authentic, enjoyable works of Stephen R. Lawhead. 

Just make sure you’ve got Google Translate handy.