“The Arrow of Sherwood" by Lauren Johnson (2013)
I love history and I love Robin Hood, but the two are in many ways incongruous. What Lauren Johnson does is create a seamless and believable narrative, grounded in excellent worldbuilding built on historical fact. It's exactly what I would expect from a Robin Hood novel written by a professional historian.
The Arrow of Sherwood begins where many Robin Hood stories popularly begin — Robin of Locksley returns home from the third crusade and finds things are not as he remembers. His father and sister are dead, his mother has remarried the sheriff, and his young nephew and estate are under the wardship of the powerful Vipont family. Through calculated political maneuvers, Robin attempts to regain his land while balancing his opposition to their strict and vindictive treatment of the local people.
The first thing that struck me about this book when I initially read it in 2016 is the history woven into the narrative of the story. Of course, in the tradition of contemporary Robin Hood stories and in the sense of historical events, it's most closely tied to the dispute between Prince John and King Richard and the third crusade. The end of the book even highlights the 1194 siege of Nottingham Castle, in which the characters are active participants.
Beyond the events themselves, the world and characters feel authentic. I am not a historian and I don't pretend to be, but the medieval world feels truly alive on the pages of this book. The chapters aren't numbered and don't have titles per se, but rather are labeled as points of time relevant to medieval life by using the liturgical calendar and and agricultural cycle. At one point, Friar Toki provides medical expertise to heal a character, and then quotes the current astrological positioning to determine his recovery. There are descriptions of building construction, food, armor and weapons, hawking techniques, and other everyday experiences and items that feel like glimpses into the past. These little details are sprinkled throughout the the whole book, and it results in an incredibly immersive world.
This is perhaps one of the most politically nuanced Robin Hood novel I've ever read. Characters deal explicitly with local policy and law, fighting against it, exploiting it, and deceiving those in power when it is not working in their favor. I think some readers may find the amount of court scenes difficult to get through. It's not what many would expect from a Robin Hood novel and they are quite prevalent in this one. Personally, I think there's a good amount of wit and intrigue during those scenes, and they're overall very engaging.
Let's talk characters. A unique and memorable feature of The Arrow of Sherwood is the original villains. While all of the most popular Robin Hood villains are present, none of them are the primary villains. Sir Walter Peverill, Marian's father and the sheriff, commonly sides with Robin when attempting to fight against the Viponts. Guy de Vipont, Eudo de Vipont's son and Marian's fiancé, is easily swayed to take Marian's advice and speaks against his father often. Both Sir Walter and Guy are usually likeable and try to do the right thing when they can. In fact, neither the sheriff or Guy truly play as antagonists.
It is Eudo de Vipont and other members of their family who take center stage as calculated and manipulative members of Nottingham's nobility and fierce supporters of Prince John. Prince John himself appears a few times, but is not an immediate player in the story, acting primarily as the force backing the Viponts decisions and power. Eudo's self-serving movements throughout the novel build on one another and are genuinely surprising and interesting, creating unexpected plot twists. He is easy to hate but, at the same time, is not two dimensional. It's easy to see the reasons behind his choices and his motivations to act as he does.
Meanwhile, Robin's characterization is both convincing and somewhat unusual. For the first fourth of the novel, he comes off as quite self-centered, putting himself and his own needs before others. With this as his starting point, the development of his character is one of the most compelling parts of this book. By the end, he actively puts his own interests to one side and acts in the interest of others to the detriment of his own goals. I've recently become more interested in Robin Hood as a yeoman rather than a member of nobility, as it feels more in line with Robin's interest in social justice. However, Robin in The Arrow of Sherwood feels absolutely genuine despite his noble birth. Most of the book is told in his point of view, and because his character is so compelling it really kept my attention.
(As a fun note, Robin himself is not connected in any way to the Earl of Huntingdon, but the earl does make a notable cameo during the castle siege. It feels intentional and and I absolutely loved it as an easter egg!)
All of the characters feel individually authentic. Their roles in life, responses to their world, and actions all feel true to themselves, history, and the story itself. They are all fully fleshed out and real.
I'll talk briefly about Marian specifically, because I always want to talk about Marian. Although she plays an important role and is an active character in the plot, she is not often present in the narrative during the first half of the book. We get to know her, but she is definitely more of a supporting character than a main character. That said, she is one of my favorite literary Marians. She is smart, observant, works towards her own goals, politically savvy, and plays an important role. The romance between Robin and Marian is very subtle, and almost nonexistent. To that end, when she is on the page, she is more than a romantic interest and has a purpose within the plot. I love her in this book!
While The Arrow of Sherwood takes place during King Richard's reign, I found the ending to be satisfying rather than trope-heavy. Following the popular trope, Robin and the outlaws do receive a royal pardon from the king in return for their services at the siege, but it is not lightly given and he is not portrayed as a savior king. Rather, his flaws and absenteeism are highlighted both by the narrative and the characters. Robin is somewhat frustrated and disappointed with the king's actions in Nottingham, and what the king does do comes across as self-serving and lawful rather than benevolent. As a reader, I found this to be one of my preferred depictions of King Richard in Robin Hood literature.
If you are looking for a historically satisfying Robin Hood novel, this is it. As a Robin Hood enthusiast with a long history of reading Robin Hood literature, this is truly one of the best. There's an attention to detail that lends itself to an entirely immersive reading experience. Despite using popular tropes of Robin Hood stories, it is entirely original and worth the time of any Robin Hood fan or lover of medieval historical fiction.
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