The Outlaws of Medieval Legend

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The popular heroes of the Middle Ages were semi-mythical figures such as Robin Hood and Hereward the Wake. In this illuminating book, now available for the first time in paperback, and with a new appendix to outline new research, Maurice Keen explains the popularity of such figures. He explores what it was in the outlaw stories that appealed to the common people of the Middle Ages, and discusses their origins, spirit and background. Apart from William Wallace, the heroes of the outlaw legends were not men who played a leading role on the historical stage. Nevertheless, as Maurice Keen shows, they were remembered in tradition for generations and some of them, like Robin Hood, have become household names, retaining their popular appeal up to the present day. Cover illustration: Late fifteenth century woodcut used on the front of the Gest of Robyn Hode and his meyne, and of the proud Sheryfe of Nottingham published in 1508.