Hood

Hood, by Stephen R. Lawhead

This book is a retelling of the Robin Hood legend. Instead of being set in England during the time of Richard the Lionhearted, the story is set in Wales about a hundred years earlier. One of the main reasons the author cites for this change is that Sherwood Forest, supposedly haunted in the legend, if located in England, would be reconstituted forest- not very haunting. In Wales a hundred years earlier, there DID exist virgin forests, which would be very spooky. There were other reasons about the origins and natures of rising legends, which were also valid points, but the one that caught my interest was the reason about the virgin forests. The thought had never occurred to me before.

That being said, I will summarize. Bran is a Welsh prince, who has no interest in his father's throne. When his father is killed, we begin to discover the politics that are taking place in the British Isles during that time. Bran is forced into danger and hiding, Lady Merian and her family become political pawns, and the rich nobles squabble with each other over the rich land. The book contains the classic elements of the legend, but in a new and Celtic sort of way. It is easy to forget that you are reading a story about Robin Hood, because the names are different. Then every once in a while, an English character will struggle with a Celtic name like Aethelfrith, and will simply say in English, "I'll call you Friar Tuck," and you will be reminded that it is an old story with a new twist (this explains why the Robin Hood character is named Bran- its Welsh). I think its cool, but I am putting it here because I realize it might be an annoying element to some people.

While on the whole I enjoyed the book, the climax was somewhat of a cliche, the hero is trapped, miraculously finds an opportunity to hold a knife to the fair lady's throat even though everyone including himself is in love with her, and ultimately we see him riding off with her on the back of his horse, and the classic signs of a romantic comedy beginning, where something threatens their relationship and something else causes them to live happily ever after. However, because this is book one of a trilogy, at the end of the book she still hates him. I know you are all thinking, "What is she doing, giving away the ending?" but be honest... don't you already know the Robin Hood story? Whats more exciting is how the author gets to all the components of the legend in different and intriguing ways. Its the middle that is interesting, not the end. You all know the end. Its Robin Hood.

I do have to say, however, that the book is frustrating for two reasons. 1) The denouement (oooh big word!) is NOT a cliche, it sets up a cliff hanger for the next book, which I refuse to buy until it comes out in softcover in June (darn!). And 2) the book was sold in the Christian bookstore where I work, and for the life of me, I can't find anything Christian about it. Granted, it is not ANTI-Christian, and I am not opposed to reading books that are not overtly Christian, but to sell it in a Christian bookstore seems a little misleading to me.

It did seem accurate to me (and relevant to today's world) in one way. The monks had Christianized Wales by that point (so the characters are "Christian" but the message of the book is pure entertainment without a religious intent) and the Normans under King William the Red were also "Christian." So while killing each other, they each return and in their own way continue in their religious practices. I find it interesting that even today we still have evidence of that going on, for example, backstabbing our neighbors only to turn around and pray for them. It is ironic and sad that we are living like ancient Isreal in Judges, "everyone did what was right in their own eyes," meaning, everyone thinks that they are following God and then they also believe that it is divine right to conquer and kill in Wales or whatever area in the modern day could be their "Wales." That's just a little food for thought, it was not the message of the book, but one thing I picked up on that seemed relevant in my eyes.

To sum it all up, I recommend this book, in all its wonderful action and plot, as well as in all of its potential flaws.