Hood

[myrddin]

I'm very excited about this book. Can't wait to read it.

RE: Veering away from the Celtic style
Well, the famed long bow came from Wales, so my guess is SL is working that angle into the Robin Hood legend. Traditionally the story is about Saxon vs Norman oppression. Adding Robin as Welsh (Bran fromt he description?) adds another layer (since the Saxons pushed the celts into Wales 4 centuries before).

I just want to see king Richard portrayed correctly in a Robin Hood story (a king who didn't even speak English and spent most of his reign abroad). No "save England for Richard," please.

But if SL writes it, I will read it. His prose is too good not to.

[Janikz Rex]

woot!! new book!!! cant wait!!

[Tegid]

From a "Thomas Nelson Press Release" (April 18, 2006):

For the past twenty years Stephen Lawhead has re-written the greatest legends of all time with depth and authenticity. King Arthur, the Crusades, and Saint Patrick have all benefitted from Lawhead's exhaustive research and unique voice. After roaming the last medieval forest in Wales and burying himself in poetry once sung in noblemen's halls, Lawhead found the beginnings of a mythic character who would one day become a cultural icon: Robin Hood. In Hood (WestBow Press; September 5, 2006) Lawhead tells the story of Bran, a Welsh nobleman who has lost everything and must undergo a painful transformation before he can begin to resemble the legendary hero portrayed in the movies.

In the 11th century Wales was still covered in undeveloped land and forests. The Normans, seeking to add to their wealth, successfully invaded the country and laid siege to the townships and small forts, forcing the Welsh to flee to the forests. For the next two hundred years the Normans attempted to subdue the excessively war-like Welsh, the success of which is still in contention today. It was during this time that stories and songs spread about a vulgar rogue who inflicted insult on the Normans.

Drawing inspiration from the bards of centuries ago, Lawhead has created a story that perhaps comes closer to the original legends than any other attempt. With more than 3 million novels sold, Lawhead has established himself as a formidable player in the world of fiction. Hood is just the first installment in the King Raven Trilogy. The next two volumes will release in September 2007 and 2008. The second, Scarlet, will be told from the perspective of Will Scarlet, a reoccurring [sic] character in the Robin Hood cycle, as he awaits the hangman's noose.

With his insistence on historical accuracy and an uncanny ability to create enchanting and mythic landscapes, Lawhead has created a hypnotic and refreshingly original tale about a familiar hero with greater depth and passionate courage than his movie counterpart.

[Tegid]

For your viewing pleasure, the cover of the UK edition:

Publicity material in the UK calls this "his first novel for young readers" and classifies it as Children's Fiction, Ages 12+

"Book one of the King Raven series. Stephen R. Lawhead's first novel for younger readers is an extraordinary retelling of the Robin Hood legend.

"The Norman conquest of England is complete - but for one young man the battle has only just begun. When Bran ap Brychan's father is murdered by Norman soldiers, he flees to London, seeking justice. The journey is long and hard - and the suffering of those he meets along the way fuels his anger. With his demands dismissed, Bran has no choice but to return home, but a worse fate still awaits him there. His lands have been confiscated and his people subjugated by a brutal and corrupt regime.

"Should Bran flee for his life or protect his people by surrendering to his father's murderers? The answer, perhaps, is known only to the Raven King - a creature of myth and magic born of the darkest shadows of the forest."

- Atom, the teen fiction imprint of Little, Brown Book Group

[Child of Immanuel]

Nifty! It certainly sets the mood for a mysterious story.

[dgan]

Here is a primer to get you guys started. I compiled this a couple months ago, and it references 12th century England because at the time I thought that to be the likely setting for the book. However, SRL was true to form and threw us a curve. His story of HOOD is said to begin in 11th century Britain. But I thought most of these would still give an indication of what we could encounter in the book:


Interesting things of that time period, hopefully specific to England. (Assuming SRL sets this in the late 12th century, around the time of Richard the Lionheart. He could realistically place it any time over a 300 year period, as there are many legends of various "Hoods" that go on for hundreds of years. But the most popular are set back around 1192 or so.)

Technology:

Crossbow - France recently developed a superior version, unsure when it was introduced to England, so England may still suffer with a cumbersome and less powerful crossbow.

Gunpowder - this is credited to an inventor in the 13th century, however that is the invention of actual gunpowder. Other explosive concoctions most likely were just being experimented with about this time.

Windmill - this is debated, I guess, but the earliest written record puts the windmill in England around 1170.

Universities - the first real major universities begin showing up in the 12th century.

Food:

Mostly bread and ale. (Perfect for an SRL story!)

Meat was very scarce, especially for peasants, which is why hunting in the restricted forests was so harshly penalized.

Eggs, milk, and other animal products were scarce and expensive for peasants.

Fruit and grains were harvested - vegetables were not seriously farmed.

Other:

Interesting...hashish and other drugs widely used in the Middle East were introduced to the Crusaders. While major use is not recorded, it is believed it may have been brought back in small supplies by Crusaders.

The works of great philosophers were just being rediscovered at this time, so there was a brand new buzz of intellectuals, philosophers, politicians, reformists and inventors. It was just the beginning of major social structure changes.

[dgan]

According to the previews, it sounds like Robin Hood is going to be more of a tragic figure, at least at first. He is usually portrayed as the confident, witty, good guy. But SRL may have made him much more "human", if that is an ok term to use. If that is the case, I imagine there must be other stronger characters - much like Merlin or Tegid, perhaps - to help guide him. Maybe Friar Tuck would be one, or even Marian. It will be interesting to see how SRL has done that.

[twyrch]

I love where this story is going... In 1082, my family ruled the ancient kingdom of Powys in Northern Wales. King Edward routed them, taking their land as his own, among other things. According to my family's historical record, we possessed a Black Rood and King Arthur's crown. The black rood was paraded down the streets of London and the crown melted down into a chalis for King Edward. My family escaped to Cardiff and continued on in Southern Wales. Their castle in Welshpool, Powys Castle, still stands today and is a retreat for Prince Charles.

I can't wait to read SRL's version of Hood and from the blurbs Tegid has posted, I wonder if Bran would have had contact with my own ancestors.

[dgan]

Robin Hood information, completely unrelated to Lawhead's book:

BBC is producing a 13-part series of Robin Hood...filming in Budapest...interesting.

Robin Hood is being presented in an outdoor theatre for free in Seattle. Showing now through August 26.

It is currently 106 degrees at Camp Robin Hood in New Hampshire (U.S.). Various camps beginning end of July and August.

There is still time to enroll for the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham. The race is Sept 10th; entry fee is £25.00.

Whale watching off the coast of British Columbia, Canada? Book your stay at Robin Hood Motel.

[bardd]

Robin Hood's always been, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favorite legend. Although the only Welsh Robin Hood I've ever come across was nothing more than a clever theif, I trust Lawhead has done a magnificent job with this! There is only one thing I'd be mad about if he leaves it out, and that is the comedy in the meeting Robin has with Little John, and then with Friar Tuck. Obviously, the story's going to be different, but, so long as he keeps the spirit of those meetings, I'll be a happy man!!

[Dred]

You'll just have to wait and see. My guess is this new take will be very different from what we've seen before elsewhere but that is just a guess.

[Tegid]

Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning, who have recorded several CDs of music inspired by Stephen Lawhead's books, have released Volume 1 of King Raven. Click on the image for more information or to hear sample clips.

[Janikz Rex]

the uk cover looks awesome

[luv1another]

I dont normally like instrumentals but thats quite nice

[Tegid]

One of the tracks, 'Fire Song (Love's Pure Light),' is a song using words of a verse chanted in the book.