Matter of the Greenwood: Will Scarlet
A look at the most shadowy Merry Man. Image: Patric Knowles as Will in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Perhaps the least well...
Matter of the Greenwood: Guy of Gisburne
Content note: violence including mutilation. Image: Paul Dickey as Sir Guy in the 1922 film Robin Hood. In modern times, Guy of Gisborne...
Some Scottish Red Weddings
The theme of sacrosanct hospitality being murderously abused looms large in Scottish history and legend. Content note: murder; spousal...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Silver Arrow
One of the most famous stories about Robin Hood, featured in almost every adaptation (at least, until recently), is that his enemies...
Matter of the Greenwood: Little John: Evolution
An examination of how the character of Robin Hood's devoted lieutenant has developed over the centuries. N.B. this post has been updated...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Sheriff of Nottingham - Evolution
We’ve looked at the possible historical origins of Robin Hood’s archenemy. What about his evolution in fiction? N.B. this post has been...
Matter of the Greenwood: Friar Tuck - Evolution
I examine how the character of Tuck has evolved over the centuries. Image: Woodcut by F. W. Fairholt for an 1847 ballad collection....
Matter of the Greenwood: The Saracen outlaw
Since the 1980s, most major new Robin Hood stories have included a Muslim Merry Man – but how much further back does the character go?...
Matter of the Greenwood: Maid Marian - Evolution
In the second part of my piece on Marian, I investigate how her legend has evolved down to the present day. Image: Bernadette O'Farrell...